Figuurstudies 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this study of figures on paper using pencil and crayon. I can imagine him circling around his subject, rapidly capturing the different angles of the figures in front of him. The purple crayon shimmers with a strange ghostly presence, hovering over the more solid graphite. Are they different moments in time? Alternative possibilities? I really get a sense of the artist trying to work something out, trying to see, his gaze moving from one face to another. The marks are so light, so fleeting, yet they’re full of information and the feeling of life. I am reminded of other artists such as Degas who used drawing as a way to explore the human form. I’m so drawn to the raw, unresolved nature of this study. It’s a beautiful testament to the power of drawing as a tool for seeing and understanding.