Man met een mand aan zijn arm c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, *Man met een mand aan zijn arm*, using what looks like charcoal, and the speedy lines make me think he was trying to catch a fleeting moment. It's all about immediacy and gesture. Look at how Israels builds the figure with these raw, broken lines. The texture is scratchy, almost like he’s digging into the paper, especially in the man’s jacket. There's a kind of urgency to it. The way he’s rendered the form is so casual but intentional. See the man's hand disappearing into the folds of his clothing? It is so casual, like it doesn't even matter. Israels reminds me of Daumier, but with a lighter touch. Both capture everyday life with a certain empathy. Art’s this ongoing conversation, right? Always echoing, responding, changing. And there’s never just one way to see things, which is what makes it all so great.