Ruiter, mogelijk een huzaar 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a possible hussar, maybe with charcoal, or a very soft pencil, right here in the Rijksmuseum. I can imagine Israels standing, quickly sketching, trying to catch the pose of the rider, the movement of the horse. Look at the scratchy, energetic lines, dark and pressing in some areas, light and fading in others. It’s almost as if Israels is wrestling with the image, trying to pin it down on the page. The overall impression is very tonal, from the soft, smudgy grays to the very dark marks, giving a sense of volume. It reminds me a little of Daumier. I wonder if Israels was looking at his work, too? This sketch is not just about capturing a likeness; it's about the act of seeing, of recording a fleeting moment. This is the kind of drawing where the artist shows you everything, including all the thinking that went into it. It’s the kind of drawing that makes you want to grab a pencil and start drawing, too!