Rok en schoenen c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, ‘Rok en schoenen,’ with graphite on paper, and it's now at the Rijksmuseum. Look at how the marks almost hover. They seem to appear as if by chance, coming together to suggest forms and objects. I wonder what Israels was thinking as he dashed these lines across the page. Was he trying to capture a fleeting moment, or was he more interested in the act of drawing itself? The texture of the graphite gives the work a raw, immediate feel. Notice how the smudges and the varying pressure of the pencil create depth and shadow. A particular looping gesture suggests the curve of a dress, maybe a quick study of movement and shape. This piece reminds me of other artists who use drawing as a way to explore the world. It’s like they’re thinking with their hands, using the pencil to feel their way through the subject. Every artist is in conversation with those who came before, and with each other, building on shared ideas and pushing in new directions. Painting is a way to express and embrace uncertainty, it opens us up to many different ideas and emotions.