Vrouwen, mogelijk revuedanseressen c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels sketched these possible revue dancers, with what looks like a graphite pencil, maybe? The lines are so light, just barely there, like he's trying to catch a fleeting moment. It’s all about the gesture, the process, you know? There’s something so immediate and raw about this drawing. The texture of the paper peeks through, giving it a fragile feel. Look how he captures the weight of a head with just a few strokes, or the suggestion of a costume. It reminds me of a Cy Twombly doodle, where the act of mark-making is as important as what’s being depicted. Israels, like Degas, was interested in capturing a sense of modern life. And while this is just a sketch, it hints at the energy and dynamism of his paintings. For me, it speaks to the beauty of unfinished ideas, the potential that lies within a simple line.