Twee vrouwen aan een tafel, mogelijk op een terras c. 1915s - 1925s

This sketch by Isaac Israels shows two women at a table, possibly on a terrace, and it’s rendered with the immediacy of pencil on paper. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving quickly, capturing a fleeting moment. I imagine Israels, out on that terrace, perhaps a bit restless, needing to capture the scene before the light changes or the women move. It’s all about the energy of the line, isn't it? The way he uses hatching to suggest form and shadow, it reminds me of some of Degas’ drawings, that sense of capturing modern life as it unfolds. It’s a snapshot of a moment, not labored over, but full of life. These rapid marks, the textural contrast achieved with a simple pencil—it's enough to make you feel the warm air, the casual atmosphere. It’s a beautiful example of how much can be said with so little. Like a conversation, it’s about feeling present.