Wandelaars, spelende kinderen en rijtuigen 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch, "Wandelaars, spelende kinderen en rijtuigen," with a pencil. The scribbled, almost nervous energy of the lines reminds me that art is a process. It's about thinking through making. Here, the graphite is light and quick, a flurry of marks that barely define figures and forms. Look at the jumble of lines to the left - maybe carriages, or people? It's not about clear representation, but about capturing a fleeting impression. The surface of the paper peeks through, becoming part of the image, a kind of visual breathing space. The scratches and smudges only add to the sense of immediacy. It brings to mind Cy Twombly's messy, poetic scribbles. Both artists share a love of the accidental mark, the beauty of the imperfect line. It's like they're saying, "Hey, art doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be real."