Stadsgezicht met paard 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a cityscape with a horse, probably on location, using graphite or charcoal, building the image with many shifting marks. I can imagine Israels out in the city, quickly sketching to capture the scene. There's a beautiful, economical energy to the way he uses line. Look how the horse is captured with these flowing gestures, almost like shorthand. The buildings in the background are barely there, just a few lines suggesting their forms. It makes me think about how much information we need to understand an image. Israels gives us just enough to get the idea across. It reminds me of some of the quick sketches that artists like Degas or Manet would make. There's a real immediacy to it. You feel like you’re right there with the artist, watching him capture a fleeting moment. It makes me wonder: what does it mean to finish a painting? Sometimes, the most powerful images are the ones that leave something to the imagination.