Studie 1921 - 1922

Isaac Israels made this drawing with pencil on paper, and it’s a study, so it’s all about the process. I love the way Israels uses line here, almost tentatively, like he's feeling his way through the scene. Look at the figure in the foreground, how it's barely there, just a few strokes defining the form, so raw, so vulnerable. The texture of the paper shows through, becoming part of the image, like a half-formed memory. The marks around the central figure spread out like an aura. The ambiguity is gorgeous. It reminds me of Degas, how he captured fleeting moments and everyday life, the same interest in movement and capturing a sense of immediacy. Art’s an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas, right? It’s more about questions than answers.