Figuren op een terras 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of figures on a terrace with graphite on paper. I love how Israels is thinking through seeing in this drawing, working out what it is to represent people in space. The marks are restless and energetic, with layers of hatching building up tone and form. It’s like he's trying to capture a fleeting moment, or maybe the figures were moving as he was drawing them! The texture of the paper comes through, with the graphite clinging to the surface in different ways. Israels uses the side of the pencil to create broad, smudgy areas, and then sharp, precise lines to define the edges of the figures. There's something very immediate and physical about the drawing, which reminds me of the work of Degas. Both artists are interested in capturing the human figure in motion, but while Degas often focuses on dancers, Israels seems more interested in everyday life. It’s interesting how this drawing, like much art, embraces ambiguity.