Twee vrouwen 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch of two women with graphite on paper, and it's now housed in the Rijksmuseum. It's amazing how Israels captures a sense of fleeting movement with just a few lines. The physical presence of the graphite on the page is so immediate. Look at the varying pressure he uses. Some lines are light and airy, barely there, while others are dark and assertive, especially in the faces. The texture of the paper shines through, giving the sketch a raw, unfinished quality, like a thought jotted down in real-time. The way he renders their hair with these quick, scribbled marks makes it feel alive. It reminds me of Degas and his sketches of dancers, but with a more intimate, almost casual feel. It shows how artists can use simple materials to convey so much emotion and energy, embracing the beauty of the imperfect and the unfinished.