Donkere vrouw met haar zoon bij het circus c. 1900

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a dark-skinned woman with her son at the circus using graphite and paper. The immediacy of the medium gives the work its strength. Graphite, after all, is pure carbon - a basic building block of all life. We get a sense of Israels quickly capturing the essence of the scene, the textural hatching of the graphite giving weight to the figures, and the slight shading hinting at the environment around them. Israels's choice of graphite is critical. Unlike painting, which allows for layers and corrections, graphite demands a directness. The marks left are permanent, each stroke a commitment to the artist's vision. This aligns with the subject, as the circus, like a drawing, is there for a moment. It is impermanent and exciting. The decision to use drawing, and the speed with which the artwork was made, elevates the everyday. Here, Israels bridges the gap between what we consider a quick sketch and a considered fine art. It reminds us that every material and technique carries cultural meaning, and that these meanings can be intertwined, just like a mother and son watching a circus act.