Figuren voor gebouwen, mogelijk winkels c. 1930 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch, "Figuren voor gebouwen, mogelijk winkels," with a graphite pencil on paper. It's like seeing a thought in progress, a first draft of an idea. The lines are so minimal, almost hesitant, but they carry a real energy. Look at how the pencil barely kisses the page; it’s all about suggestion rather than declaration. The texture of the paper becomes part of the drawing itself, giving it a kind of breathing room. Israels isn't trying to give us the whole story, just a glimpse. The marks are quick, like he's trying to capture something fleeting. It reminds me a bit of Daumier's sketches—that same sense of capturing the everyday bustle of city life with just a few deft strokes. Art isn't always about the finished product; sometimes, it's about the process, the search, the sheer joy of seeing.