Ruiter op een boulevard, mogelijk in Scheveningen 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a rider on a boulevard, possibly in Scheveningen, using what looks like a graphite pencil on paper. I love how Israels captures a fleeting moment with such minimal means. The sketch is so light; it’s as though the boulevard and the rider might vanish if you blink. You can see how the lines are tentative, searching, like he's feeling his way through the scene. Look at the way he's drawn the horse's legs—just a few quick scribbles that somehow suggest movement and weight. The whole thing has a lovely, unresolved quality. It reminds me a little of some of Degas’ sketches, that same sense of immediacy and seeing. Ultimately, this little drawing is a reminder that art doesn’t always have to be about finished products; it can also be about the joy of looking and trying to capture something real.