Drie staande figuren, mogelijk vrouwen 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch of three standing figures, possibly women, using charcoal. Look how the artist has translated what he saw into a series of marks across the page. There's something so satisfying and familiar in the act of sketching. I can imagine Israels with his pad, rapidly trying to capture the essence of these figures before they moved. The tilted lines of the women’s cloaks almost appear to sway. The beauty of a sketch like this lies in its freedom. Each line seems to question and search, creating a space of imagination and possibility. It’s a reminder that art isn't about perfection, but about observation, feeling, and the joy of making. It reminds me a little of Manet's sketches, the same interest in capturing contemporary life. The immediacy of Israels’ marks invites us to contemplate what it means to be human, to be seen, and to be represented.