Drie mannen en een vrouw, mogelijk in een café 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this evocative drawing, "Three Men and a Woman, Possibly in a Café" with a pencil, and I can almost hear the scratch of it across the page. I love how the scene seems to emerge from a haze of graphite. There's a real tenderness in the way he captures these figures. The lines are so delicate, almost tentative, as if he's trying to capture a fleeting moment, a glimpse of life unfolding in front of him. You can sense the atmosphere of the cafe—the clinking of glasses, the murmur of conversation. I can imagine Israels sitting there, sketchbook in hand, trying to capture the essence of what he sees. Maybe he was drawn to the way the light fell across their faces, or the way they leaned in to share a secret. The image is blurry, like an impression, and this lets us glimpse into his artistic process. It’s a reminder that artists are always in conversation with each other, and that their work is a reflection of the world around them.