Danseres met de handen in de zij 1875 - 1934

This sketch of a dancer by Isaac Israels, drawn with what looks like graphite, has the confidence of a quick study, an attempt to capture a fleeting moment. I love to imagine Israels with his sketchbook, perched somewhere, observing this dancer. It feels like he’s trying to get a sense of her energy, her poise, maybe even her personality. I wonder what caught his eye? Was it the way she held herself, the curve of her back, or the set of her jaw? The lines are so economical, almost like shorthand, but they manage to convey so much. See how he captures the gesture of the hands on the hips, the tilt of the head. And the way he suggests the folds of her dress with just a few strokes. It’s like he’s not just drawing what he sees, but also what he feels. This reminds me of other sketchbooks by artists like Degas, who sought to explore light and movement through such rapid gestural works. It's this immediacy and directness that make the sketch so appealing. It reminds us that art is often about observation, intuition, and the joy of mark-making.