Twee vrouwen op straat c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of two women on the street at an unknown date with a pencil, and what strikes me first is his mark-making. Look how tentative, almost searching, each line is. He's not trying to capture a perfect likeness, but rather the feeling of these figures, their presence. The material quality here is all about immediacy. The paper is raw, and the pencil lines are direct, no fussing. Israels captures the weight and volume of the women's bodies with just a few strokes. The faces are particularly evocative, with a few quick lines suggesting character and mood. There is something about the woman to the left of the frame which suggests a directness in her gaze. This sketch reminds me of some of Degas's quick studies of dancers. Like Degas, Israels is less interested in idealised beauty than in capturing the fleeting moments of everyday life. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfection; it's about seeing and feeling.