Groep zittende figuren, mogelijk een gamelanorkest 1921 - 1922

Isaac Israels made this sketch of seated figures, possibly a gamelan orchestra, sometime in his lifetime using pencil on paper. It’s the kind of drawing that feels really immediate, like Israels was trying to capture a fleeting moment. Look at the way the pencil lines swarm across the page, creating a sense of movement and energy, almost like the music itself is being visualized. There's a real economy of means here – just a few lines to suggest a figure, a chair, a musical instrument. The texture of the paper also becomes part of the drawing, adding another layer of visual interest. It's cool how Israels isn't trying to give us all the answers. Instead, he's inviting us to fill in the blanks, to use our imaginations to complete the scene. It reminds me a little of Degas' sketches, that same sense of capturing a moment in time with just a few well-placed lines. But Israels has his own distinct voice, a kind of looseness and spontaneity that's really appealing. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is about seeing, feeling, and responding to the world around us in our own unique way.