Artieste in een circus 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, ‘Artieste in een circus’, with black chalk, but when it was done is unknown. The strokes of the chalk are like quicksilver, darting this way and that, never settling. It’s all about capturing a moment, a fleeting impression. And look at the way the artist uses the chalk on the page, almost scratching at the surface to describe the form. The shading is dense, heavy, creating a sense of depth and volume. What I love is the way the quick marks build up to give us something solid, even though it feels like it could dissolve at any moment. Take the artist’s face, for example, the lines suggesting the curves of her cheek and the set of her mouth. This reminds me of Degas’s pastels. Both artists aren't trying to give us the whole story, just a glimpse. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfection, it's about the energy and the feeling.