Drie vrouwen en een meisje op straat 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this work, Drie vrouwen en een meisje op straat, with graphite on paper. It’s so simple, just a few lines that give a sense of figures in the street. I imagine Israels quickly sketching this in a notebook, trying to capture the energy of the moment. I can almost feel the graphite moving across the page, a dance between hand and eye. Did he pause, or did the marks flow continuously? Look at the way he suggests the figures with so little detail. How does he do it? It reminds me of some of Degas’ quick sketches, where a few lines convey a whole world of movement and light. It's like they are in conversation, across time, about how to see and represent the fleeting moments of everyday life. Drawing like this isn't about perfection; it’s about feeling and seeing. It's about the pleasure of marking and the magic of suggestion.