Figuurstudies 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, "Figuurstudies," with pencil on paper, and what strikes me first is its incredible lightness. It's like he barely touched the paper, just a whisper of a line here and there. Look at the way he suggests the figures, almost dissolving into the background. There’s a real sense of movement. The beauty here lies in the sketchiness, the lack of defined form. It’s all suggestion and potential. My eye keeps going to that tiny hat. It’s so small and defined, but it gives me the feeling that the figures aren’t just forms, but individuals. Israels reminds me of someone like Manet. Both were interested in capturing fleeting moments, with a loose approach to form, valuing the process of observation over a polished final product. This piece feels more like a question than an answer, an invitation to join Israels in his act of seeing.