Figuren en strandstoelen bij de branding 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of figures and beach chairs near the surf with graphite on paper. Look how the marks are economical and unblended, which gives you a sense of the artist really *working* to capture the subject in real time. The physical graphite itself is powdery, almost like charcoal, leaving little trails and smudges on the paper. See how the marks used to depict the water almost vibrate! Then, just above that, the blobby shapes of figures and beach chairs. Everything is in motion, and not just the waves. I’m thinking about other artists who were drawing at the beach like this. Maybe someone like Courbet, but Courbet had a different reason for going to the beach, all politics. Israels is more interested in simply *looking*. It’s a great reminder that art doesn’t always have to shout. Sometimes, it can just whisper and observe.