Twee dansende vrouwen c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch, "Two Dancing Women", probably with charcoal or graphite on paper, sometime in his career. Isn't it interesting how a few lines can convey so much? Israels really understood the power of suggestion. The way he uses line weight – thick in some places, barely there in others – gives the figures movement and a sense of weightlessness, like they’re floating on the page and lost in dance. Look at the simplicity of the faces, or where the faces should be. The focus is on the gesture, the tilt of their heads, and the implied rhythm of their bodies. It reminds me of Degas's dancers, but with an even more stripped-down approach. This sketch feels immediate, like a fleeting moment captured in its purest form. It’s a reminder that art doesn't always need to be polished or perfect; sometimes, the most powerful works are the ones that embrace the raw energy of the creative process.