Theatervoorstelling c. 1915s - 1925s

This pencil drawing, 'Theatervoorstelling', was made by Isaac Israels. It looks like he captured a fleeting moment in the theater. I see scribbled lines and cross-hatching, which makes me think about Israels’ hand moving quickly across the paper, trying to catch the essence of the performance. The sketch feels immediate, like a snapshot of a moment that’s about to disappear. I can imagine Israels sitting in the dark, squinting to see the stage, his pencil dancing across the page. What was he thinking as he made this? Was he trying to capture the emotion of the scene? Or was he simply drawn to the play of light and shadow? Painters have always been inspired by one another, and this sketch reminds me that we’re all part of an ongoing conversation. Each artist builds on the work of those who came before, adding their own voice to the mix. And for me, that's what makes painting so exciting! It is an endless dialogue that embraces experimentation, uncertainty, and possibility.