Publiek bij een violist 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of an audience with a violinist with graphite on paper. Look at how the marks build up to suggest the forms, figures, and space of the concert hall. The quick, dark marks are applied with an immediacy that’s exciting. It’s like the artist is trying to capture the fleeting feeling of the moment before it disappears. I love how the graphite is used to create a range of tones and textures. See the dense, layered marks that create deep shadows and volume, contrasted with the light, sketchy lines that suggest movement and energy. The artist’s hand is so present in this drawing, and it makes me feel like I'm right there in the audience with them, experiencing the music and the atmosphere. It reminds me a little of Daumier, but without the political bite. There’s a similar interest in capturing contemporary life through line, which makes art a continuous conversation across time. What do you think?