Straatfeest 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a street festival with pencil on paper. I love seeing how artists sketch out a scene! Just look at these loose strokes of graphite, thick and smudgy, like he’s trying to capture the energy of a bustling street. You can almost feel the excitement and movement. I can imagine Isaac standing there, quickly moving his hand across the paper trying to keep up with the scene unfolding before him. There’s a raw, unpolished quality that makes it feel so immediate, like a snapshot of a moment in time. It reminds me of sketches by other artists like Degas or Daumier, who were also masters of capturing fleeting moments of modern life. Artists are always in conversation, looking and learning from one another! Israels shares his own distinct perspective and style, embracing the messy, imperfect nature of the process.