Figuren voor gebouwen, mogelijk winkels c. 1930 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing with graphite on paper. It's all tentative lines and ghostly presences. I can imagine Israels on the street sketching what he saw as quickly as possible. I bet he loved getting the essence of a subject down without being bogged down in detail. Maybe he was interested in how people interact with architecture, how buildings dictate human behavior? I love the sketchiness and the way the artist is trying to figure something out. It's like we are getting a glimpse into their mind at work. The lines are so simple and basic but they really convey form and movement. Looking at this, I get the feeling that anyone can make a mark. It’s like Israels is encouraging us to try it out for ourselves, without worrying about being perfect. We can see that drawing is just a process of exploring and experimenting.