Zittende vrouw, mogelijk in uniform 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a seated woman, possibly in uniform, with pencil on paper. What strikes me is how the shading around the shoulder suggests a heavy weight. The marks build up a sense of volume, like modeling with clay. Israels uses line not just to define edges, but to create depth and texture. Notice how the lines around her head become almost scribbled, giving her hair a sense of movement and energy. I wonder if this drawing came from life, or whether it’s an act of imagining? Maybe this ambiguity is what makes the drawing so compelling. It reminds me of something made by Degas, there’s that same sense of capturing a fleeting moment. It’s all about the gesture, the feeling, rather than a perfect likeness. It’s a reminder that art isn't about fixed meanings, but about the ongoing conversation between the artist, the subject, and us.