Toeschouwers bij een theatervoorstelling c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this pencil drawing called 'Toeschouwers bij een theatervoorstelling' – or 'Spectators at a theatrical performance' – at an unknown date. What I like about it is how loose and improvisational it is. Israels isn't trying to make a perfect picture, more like he's thinking through the image with his pencil. Look at the way he uses hatching to create shadows. The lines are scribbled in so quickly, almost like he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment. It's like he's saying, 'Here's the essence of the crowd, without all the fussy details.' And that one long vertical line on the bottom left—is that a rogue mark or part of the composition? Maybe both! This drawing reminds me of sketches by Daumier, who also had a knack for capturing the energy of a crowd with just a few lines. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is about the process of seeing and thinking, not just about the final product.