Toneelspeler die zich voor een spiegel schminkt c. 1905

This drawing, by Isaac Israels, captures a performer applying makeup in front of a mirror. It’s all about capturing a fleeting moment with just a few lines, done on paper, probably in a matter of minutes. I love how Israels uses these quick marks to create a sense of movement, like catching the actor just as he's dabbing powder on his face. You can almost feel the scratch of the pencil on the paper. I wonder if Israels ever felt like he was also playing a role, constructing an image? The casualness of the strokes is deceptive. Every line feels like a deliberate decision. It makes me think about Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec, how they captured the energy of performers with their quick, impressionistic marks. It's a reminder that artists are always in conversation, responding to each other across time and space. Each mark contains an intention.