Drie staande vrouwen c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels sketched these three standing women with what looks like charcoal or graphite in a sketchbook. Isn’t it amazing how a few quick marks can bring forth so much information? I can imagine Israels on the street, quickly capturing a scene. Look how the lines vary in pressure and direction, creating a sense of volume and light with such economy. The figures emerge from the page, each line purposeful, defining the women's forms. I feel like I'm looking over Israels's shoulder, witnessing his thought process, the choices he makes about what to include and what to leave out. The sketch feels very personal, intimate even. It reminds me of other sketch artists like Daumier, who also captured modern urban life with a similar directness and wit. It shows how artists are always building on each other’s ideas, finding new ways to see and represent the world. Each stroke leaves room for interpretation, inviting us to participate in the act of seeing.