Vrouw, mogelijk op een balkon 1887 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a woman, possibly on a balcony, using charcoal on paper. Look at how he lays down these marks: a flurry of lines, a swarm of scratches, hatching, and cross-hatching. It feels like the artist captured this scene quickly and spontaneously. Charcoal, as a medium, is so immediate. It’s right there, raw and unblended. The texture of the paper shows through, adding to the sense of immediacy. See how the dense, dark smudges of charcoal form a mass above the figure, almost like a shadow or a cloud hanging over her? There's a contrast between the boldness of these dark areas and the delicate, sketchy lines that define the woman and her surroundings. It’s like he's searching for the form, letting the process guide him. I am reminded of the work of Edgar Degas. Both artists were interested in capturing fleeting moments, everyday life. This drawing isn’t about perfection; it’s about the process of seeing and recording, about finding the essence of a subject through the act of drawing itself.