Man en vrouw met hoed, op de rug gezien 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a man en vrouw met hoed, op de rug gezien, with chalk. The marks are so free, so gestural, it really feels like he's trying to capture not just what he sees but also a fleeting moment. I love how the shadows become these almost abstract shapes, a dark mass that defines the figures without being too literal. Look at the way he uses the chalk on the hats, the side of the chalk gives a sense of volume and texture. It's like he's sculpting with light and shadow. I am thinking about Degas, another artist who was so great at capturing these kinds of intimate, everyday scenes with such freedom and spontaneity. Both of them remind us that art isn't just about perfect representation, it's about feeling, about capturing a mood or an impression.