Kozakkenkoor 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this quick sketch of a Cossack Choir with graphite on paper, and it now sits in the Rijksmuseum. I love how Israels has captured a sense of fleeting movement. You know, that feeling when you’re trying to catch a glimpse of something that’s almost gone. The frantic quality of the line makes me think about speed. Look at the scribbled hats, dark and full of energy. The marks are so raw, so unedited. It’s like he’s trying to capture the sound as much as the sight of the choir. Israels reminds me a bit of Manet. Both had this incredible ability to capture modern life without getting bogged down in detail. They both understood that art wasn’t about perfection, but about capturing a moment, an impression. It’s like they are asking us to see the world with fresh eyes, to find beauty in the everyday chaos.