Toeschouwers bij een theatervoorstelling c. 1915s - 1925s

This sketch, *Toeschouwers bij een theatervoorstelling*, was made by Isaac Israels at an unknown date, probably with a pencil. The piece is all about mark-making, really, isn't it? Look at how Israels uses these simple lines to give us a sense of depth and shadow. The texture comes entirely from the density and direction of the lines. It's almost like he's thinking out loud on paper. There's this freedom in the sketch. It's like he's capturing a fleeting moment, but also the feeling of that moment. Notice how the heavy shading at the top presses down on the scene below. It's this feeling of enclosure, maybe even anticipation, that gives the sketch its punch. Israels shares a certain sensibility with Degas, doesn't he? Both artists seem to capture a scene in a way that feels intimate and immediate. Art is about that, isn't it? Not just seeing, but feeling.