Artiesten op het toneel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this watercolour of artists on stage sometime in the late 19th, early 20th century. Look at the washiness of it all – it’s like he’s trying to capture a fleeting impression, a moment that’s about to disappear. The colours are muted, mostly browns and creams, with just a touch of red on those funny hats. It’s watery, thin – you can see the paper through the paint, like a memory fading. There's a figure in the middle playing an instrument – maybe a flute? It’s hard to tell because everything is so smudged and blended, like he painted the air as much as the people. I always feel like artists like Israels and Manet are kindred spirits, obsessed with the ephemeral quality of light and movement. Ultimately, this piece isn't about capturing a scene perfectly, but more about capturing a feeling, a mood, and a sense of fleeting beauty, that’s what art is, right?