Jonge vrouw op een ezel c. 1890 - 1920

This drawing, a young woman on a donkey, was made by Isaac Israels, but we don't know exactly when. It's all about capturing a moment, a fleeting impression. You can almost feel the artist quickly sketching, trying to get the essence of the scene down on paper before it disappears. The texture is everything here. Look at how Israels uses the pencil – sometimes dark and bold, sometimes light and feathery. Notice the smudging, like he used his finger to soften the lines and create a sense of movement. There's a real physicality to it, you can feel the artist's hand at work. The way the lines build up around the donkey's head, it gives the animal a real presence, as though it's about to turn and look right at you. Israels was interested in capturing everyday life, like Degas. This drawing reminds us that art doesn't always have to be polished and perfect, it can be raw and immediate, like a snapshot of a moment in time.