Twee lopende vrouwen, in profiel c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels drew these two women in profile with graphite on paper; a quick study, it looks like, capturing a fleeting moment. I can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page, quickly sketching out the lines of their dresses, the curve of their backs, and the elaborate hats perched atop their heads. It’s like he’s trying to capture a wisp of smoke. I wonder what caught his eye, what made him want to capture these figures in that moment. Was it the way the light fell on their faces, or the way they moved together, their bodies almost touching? You can see the speed of it in the tentative lines, how he suggests rather than defines, leaving space for the viewer – that’s you and me – to fill in the gaps. It reminds me that art isn't always about perfection or accuracy, it's about capturing a feeling, an impression, a moment in time. Artists are always looking, sharing, responding to each other’s visual languages, and the world at large.