Fietsende acrobaat op het toneel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels captured this fleeting moment of a ‘Cycling Acrobat on Stage’ with pencil on paper. The apparent simplicity of this medium belies its potential. The artist coaxes depth and movement from a humble material through a skillful hand and eye. Look closely, and you can see how the varying pressure and angle of the pencil creates a range of tonal values, from the lightest grays to near blacks. This gives the sketch a dynamic, almost cinematic quality. The visible, rapid strokes give the impression that Israels was trying to capture the essence of the scene, the immediacy of the performance. This kind of quick, expressive work can be deceptive. It takes considerable skill to make something look so effortless, and to invest a simple medium with so much energy. The artist’s choice of such rudimentary materials and methods is telling, and reminds us to value the skill and artistry involved in what might seem like a simple sketch. It’s a reminder that the most profound expressions can often come from the most direct means.