Figuren op straat 1887 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing on paper, ‘Figuren op straat’, and it’s now here at the Rijksmuseum. I see this energetic dance of lines, capturing a fleeting moment on the street. Imagine Israels quickly sketching, trying to capture the hustle and bustle of urban life, a sense of movement in the crowd. The pencil lines are loose and expressive, and that almost makes it more real. I think about the artist with his sketchbook, and how he’s choosing which details to highlight. The figures are suggested more than defined, with their hats and coats quickly described. The bareness makes me wonder what he leaves out? What does he want us to see? How can a few lines give us the sense of a time and place? Israels' sketch reminds us that artists are constantly looking and responding to the world, and that even the simplest of marks can convey a wealth of information and feeling.