Twee dansende vrouwen c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Twee dansende vrouwen, with broad strokes of what looks like graphite, capturing two figures in a moment of connection. The act of drawing itself—the pressure on the paper, the feel of the graphite—it's all right there in the simplicity of the marks. Israels has used an economy of line to suggest the volume of the women's dresses and the intimacy of their pose. I can imagine Israels sketching quickly, trying to capture a fleeting moment of togetherness. What were they saying to each other? What did they do after? It reminds me of Degas's pastels, but with an even rawer, more immediate feel. I see the history of mark-making in this piece, a dialogue between artists across time. There’s a freedom in this sketch, an openness to possibility, that speaks to the very core of what it means to create. It's a reminder that art-making is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas, across time.