Toeschouwers op een theaterbalkon c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels sketched "Toeschouwers op een theaterbalkon" with graphite on paper. Israels' confident lines, laid down with a sense of urgency, really capture the fleeting moment of being in the audience. I just love the expressiveness of the mark-making here. It's like he's trying to capture the energy of the room, the way the light hits the stage, all with these quick, almost nervous strokes. Look how the shading on the figure in the foreground is rendered with scribbled marks, creating a sense of depth and volume with a sort of restless energy. I love how this sketch opens up a space of imagination around the artwork; it's like we are there in the audience ourselves, which reminds me of Degas' pastels of ballet dancers. Degas also sought to capture the fleeting moments of life, and both artists offer us a glimpse into a particular time and place, inviting us to contemplate the beauty and complexity of everyday life.