Acrobaat 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this pencil sketch, Acrobaat, a long time ago, and it’s now here in the Rijksmuseum. Look at the way he's used the pencil, almost like he's feeling out the space. It’s all about capturing a sense of movement, right? I find it fascinating how Israels has handled the shading. The dense, almost frantic lines give a sense of depth. The textures are amazing, the light kind of pops out. You can see how Israels built up the image, layer by layer, searching for the right form. See the concentrated marks around the acrobat's form and hands? The hatching brings her form to life. It's not just about what she looks like, but how she feels, how she strains. Israels reminds me of Degas, another artist who loved capturing movement. But Israels has his own way of making it feel so immediate, so raw. It makes you realize that art isn't always about perfect representations, it’s about capturing a moment, an emotion. It’s all about the process, the journey of discovery, and, mostly, leaving room for questions.