Twee zittende vrouwelijke naakten 1875 - 1934

This is a drawing of two seated nudes by Isaac Israels, we don't know exactly when it was made, but you can imagine him, pencil in hand, quickly capturing the figures on paper. Look at how he’s used these expressive, scratchy lines! I wonder if Israels was trying to capture a fleeting moment, or just warming up his hand. The way the marks are laid down, so freely, suggests he was just playing, working something out. I feel a real sense of intimacy when I look at this. It reminds me of other artists who use drawing to explore the human form, like Egon Schiele or Käthe Kollwitz. There's a sense of vulnerability. Israels is part of this much bigger conversation. It’s like the practice of art is one big drawing club, where everyone influences each other, across time and place.