Toeschouwers bij een theatervoorstelling c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this drawing of theatre-goers with graphite on paper. Israels’ mark making is all about immediacy. It's like he's trying to capture a fleeting moment, a feeling, rather than a precise representation. Look at the layering of the graphite, the way he builds up the forms with these quick, energetic lines. See that figure on the left? It’s almost as if Israels is using the graphite to sculpt the figure, giving it weight and presence through the sheer accumulation of marks. There’s a real physicality to it. The textures created by the graphite give the drawing a tactile quality, inviting us to trace the lines with our eyes, to feel the energy of the artist's hand. Israels reminds me a little of Daumier, both artists seem to be showing the world as they experience it, in real time. Art isn’t about answers; it’s about posing questions and embracing the endless possibilities of interpretation.