Figuren op straat, mogelijk in Parijs 1887 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch, Figuren op Straat, mogelijk in Parijs, using graphite on paper, and it’s all about the dance between observation and invention. Look at the physicality of the marks. See how Israels uses the side of the graphite to create broad smudges of tone, and then digs in with the point to pick out the figures in the street? The paper becomes this incredibly active space, like a jazz improvisation. I love how the city almost dissolves into pure mark-making. Those hatched marks that suggest shadow also flatten the space, so the architecture becomes this abstract, planar construction. It’s like cubism, but with feeling. This reminds me of some of Manet’s more casual sketches, capturing the hustle and bustle of modern life with this incredible lightness of touch. It’s a beautiful reminder that art isn’t about perfect representation, but about finding new ways to see and feel the world.