Straatgezicht bij avond 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this evocative street scene at night with charcoal on paper. Look at the smudges, the unfinished quality – it’s all about the gesture and the immediacy of the experience. Israels’ process seems so direct, so unburdened. You can almost see him standing there, quickly capturing the scene. The charcoal is applied with varying pressure, creating depth and shadow, look at the column to the left. It is not just about representing a street, but capturing a mood, a moment in time. The raw, almost sketch-like quality reminds me of some of Daumier’s quick sketches, where the emphasis is on movement and atmosphere rather than detail. It shows how art can be about feeling and fleeting impressions, rather than fixed realities.