Zittend vrouwelijk naakt met opgetrokken been 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this ink drawing, “Zittend vrouwelijk naakt met opgetrokken been”, with simple marks that dance and describe. I can imagine the artist drawing this in one sitting, rapidly trying to capture the essence of the posed figure. I feel for the artist, imagining him thinking, how do I get this down quickly, what lines are essential? The drawing is wonderfully simple and concise. I feel like the artist’s line is so intuitive, searching and finding its way around the reclining figure. I love how the pen hardly leaves the page. It’s almost as if a single strand of ink, when pulled, describes her entire form. The way he's drawn the face, so simple and with so few marks, is so moving! Israels' quick, assured strokes and sensitivity to light and form are part of a legacy, reminding us that artists are always in dialogue, improvising off of each other's ideas, challenging conventions, and expanding the possibilities of painting.