Twee staande vrouwen met hoeden, mogelijk variétéartiesten 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels sketched these two women, possibly performers, with charcoal or pencil on paper at an unknown date. Look at the confidence of that line, so sure of itself, even when it fades in and out. It's like he's thinking with the charcoal, letting the drawing emerge. There's something beautiful in the simplicity here. The hats are barely there, just a few lines suggesting form, but they totally work. It's all about the gesture. See how the lines tilt and lean, giving the figures a sense of weight and presence? The strokes are so economical, but they capture something real about the women, their postures, their quiet energy. Israels reminds me a bit of Degas, with that interest in everyday life and those loose, searching lines. But Israels has his own thing going on, a kind of directness, a love for the fleeting moment. It’s a reminder that art isn't about perfection, it’s about seeing and feeling.