Artieste op rolschaatsen 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch, 'Artieste op rolschaatsen', with pencil at some point in his career. What I notice right away is the movement, the way the lines seem to capture the speed of the roller skater. It's like a dance on paper. Look at the pressure he put on the pencil, how it varies to suggest form and motion. The lines are so immediate, they convey the sense of something quickly observed. It's all about capturing a fleeting moment, the essence of the performer’s movement. There’s an energy, a lightness, that's really compelling. For me, the beauty of a work like this is in its raw honesty. It reminds me of Degas' sketches of dancers – that same fascination with movement and the body. Art isn't about perfection; it’s about the dialogue between the artist and the subject. It's this kind of open, questioning approach that makes art exciting.