Drie staande vrouwen c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch of 'Drie staande vrouwen' with graphite on paper, and what strikes me is the economy of his line, each stroke doing so much work. It’s like he's thinking on the page, letting the graphite lead the way. Look at how he’s captured the weight of their forms with just a few strokes. The texture of the paper peeks through, adding a kind of breathiness to the scene, and the smudges around the lines suggest a real sense of movement and time passing. It’s not about perfection; it’s about capturing a moment, an impression. The way he suggests the folds in their clothes with just a quick scribble – that’s where the magic happens. This reminds me a little of some of Degas' sketches, that same interest in capturing fleeting moments. But Israels brings his own sensibility. For me art’s about that conversation across time, each artist adding their own little whisper to the mix.