Mannen en vrouwen c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Mannen en vrouwen, using pencil on paper. Look at the speed and simplicity of the marks here. It's all about process, immediacy, catching a fleeting moment. The surface of the paper is left bare, with just a few lines suggesting figures, maybe in a crowd. The lines are thin, quick, almost like scribbles, but they capture the essence of the scene. See how the figures are placed, one above the other, with a sense of depth created by the overlapping lines? It's like a visual shorthand, a way of quickly noting down what Israels saw. Focus on the face of the figure at the top, how a few lines suggest a gaze upwards, a sense of wonder or expectation. It reminds me a little of Daumier's drawings, with their focus on everyday life and the human figure. This piece embraces ambiguity, leaving room for interpretation and imagination.