Twee vrouwen naast elkaar 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels drew these two women next to each other, with what looks like a pencil, and the image now resides in the Rijksmuseum. The speed of the hand is palpable here. You can almost see the artist thinking, and then quickly, before the thought disappears, sketching the essence of what he sees. There is no room for second-guessing, just a need to get it down on paper. The beauty of a sketch like this is in its simplicity, and also in how it leaves things out. It's all about the confidence of the line. Look at the way the artist indicates the shape of the ear, a simple loop, or the way he captures the turn of the head with a few strategic strokes. It reminds me of Picasso's line drawings, a similar economy of means, a similar focus on the essential. These aren't finished portraits, but they are beautiful, immediate impressions, capturing the essence of a moment, and of a person. And that's something to be celebrated, don't you think?