Twee figuren 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch of two figures, we don't know when, with what looks like pencil or charcoal, on paper. I love how the figures emerge from a blurry space. It's like they are materializing right before our eyes. The strokes are so tentative and searching; you can almost feel the artist figuring things out as he goes along. What were Israels' thinking, working on this? Maybe he was just trying to capture a fleeting moment, a glimpse of these people in their daily lives. The sketch is so minimal, it's all about capturing a mood, a feeling. Painters are always talking to each other across time. Israels probably looked at Daumier, Degas, and Manet. They would be blown away by someone like Marlene Dumas. We all work in a tradition, learning from those who came before, but also pushing in new directions. It’s a conversation.