Publiek bij een violist 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of an audience listening to a violinist with graphite on paper. Looking at this sketch, I can almost feel the scratch of the graphite as it hits the page. I imagine Israels in the crowd, quickly trying to capture the essence of the scene. There's a real sense of movement, as if the violinist is in full flow and the audience is swaying to the music. The texture of the graphite creates a sense of depth, with the darker areas suggesting the shadows and the lighter areas hinting at the light reflecting off the instruments and faces. It reminds me a bit of Degas, how he would capture these fleeting moments in his drawings and paintings. It’s a reminder that artists are always in conversation with each other, drawing inspiration from the world around them and from the artists who came before. It's like a big, messy, beautiful game of telephone.