Groep vrouwen, mogelijk op straat 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, "Groep vrouwen, mogelijk op straat", using what looks like charcoal on paper. What I love about a drawing like this is how much it leaves to the imagination. It's more a feeling than a rendering. I like the way he's letting the charcoal just sit on the surface, all crumbly, not trying to blend it too much. It gives a real sense of immediacy, like he's capturing a fleeting moment. Look at the way he suggests the folds of fabric with just a few quick strokes, and the dark, scribbled mass that makes up the women's hair and hats. It's almost abstract, but you still get the sense of a group of people, maybe chatting or hurrying down the street. It reminds me a bit of Daumier, that same kind of interest in everyday life and ordinary people. And like Daumier, Israels isn't afraid to leave things unfinished, to let the viewer fill in the gaps. That's what makes it so engaging, it's an invitation to participate in the act of seeing.