Stadsgezicht met twee vrouwen 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this city view with two women, now at the Rijksmuseum, using a pencil or maybe charcoal, a really immediate medium for capturing the fleeting energy of a place. The strokes are so direct, like he's trying to grab the essence of the scene before it vanishes. I love how the buildings in the background are just these loose, skeletal forms. It's not about detail, it's about feeling. The horizontal lines that suggest the water are especially cool, like quick, rhythmic scratches that give the whole scene a sense of movement. Look at how those lines intersect and overlap, creating this shimmering effect. It's a really smart way to convey depth and space. This piece reminds me of some of Cy Twombly's drawings, in the way they both use a kind of chaotic energy to create something beautiful. It's like they're both having a conversation about how much you can suggest with so little. There's no right or wrong way to see it, which is the best part of art, right?