Twee acrobaten 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels sketched these acrobats, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century, with pencil on paper. It's a quick study, a capturing of movement and balance more than a detailed portrait. The lines are tentative, searching, like the artist is feeling his way around the forms. I love the way the bodies are suggested with just a few strokes, the pressure of the pencil varying to indicate weight and form. The texture of the paper shows through, adding to the sense of immediacy. Notice that vertical block on the right? Is it a prop? A poorly erased line? Who knows! It reminds me of some of Degas' sketches of dancers, that same interest in capturing fleeting moments. It’s a reminder that art is often about the process, the act of seeing and recording, rather than a finished product. A sketch like this leaves so much room for our imaginations to fill in the gaps, to create our own stories about these figures and their world.