This drawing of two women at a table, possibly on a terrace, was made by Isaac Israels at an undetermined date, using graphite on paper. Isn’t it interesting how Israels captures these figures? They’re not just sitting there; there’s a real sense of movement, an immediacy that makes you feel like you’re right there with them. Look at the marks – quick, confident strokes that build up the forms, especially in the face of the woman on the left. You can almost feel the pressure of the pencil on the paper, the artist making decision after decision in real time. It's like a dance, a conversation between the artist and the subject, full of energy and life. I am reminded of Manet’s sketches, you know? The same kind of capturing a fleeting moment, a certain lightness of touch. I find that this drawing invites us into a world where nothing is fixed, where everything is in constant flux.