Drie vrouwen, op de rug gezien 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of three women from behind using what looks like charcoal on paper. The artist worked fast! The charcoal is laid down in a flurry of marks, a series of broken lines that barely describe their forms. I imagine Israels standing somewhere, quickly capturing the essence of these women before they move away, or the light changes. There is a vulnerability in the drawing, an admission of the transient and unstable nature of perception. Israels is not trying to represent them ‘as they are,’ but rather, how he sees them in a particular moment, from a particular angle. This drawing reminds me of Degas's pastels of ballet dancers; he captured the beauty and elegance of fleeting moments. It shows how artists are always looking at each other, learning from each other, and pushing the boundaries of what art can be. And for me, it is a reminder of the magic of drawing, which invites us to see the world with fresh eyes.