Twee acrobaten op een podium c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this pencil sketch, called 'Two Acrobats on a Stage,' in a sketchbook. I find it striking how Israels reduces the forms to the essential lines, capturing not just their shapes but also the dynamics of their movement. It shows how drawing can be about thinking through form, rather than just representing it. The shading creates a sense of depth and volume, particularly behind the acrobats. The quick, diagonal strokes suggest the fall of light and give the figures a ghostly presence, like they are emerging from the shadows or are about to disappear into them. See how Israels captures the ephemeral nature of performance, this fleeting moment of balance and skill. This sketch reminds me a little of Degas' sketches of dancers, where the focus is on capturing the body in motion. Both artists use line and shading to convey not just what they see, but what it feels like to witness such dynamic feats. Art invites us to see beyond the surface, to appreciate the process of seeing itself.