Vrouwen en mannen op straat 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels created this sketch, ‘Women and Men on the Street,’ with crayon on paper. Though undated, we can place it within the social context of late 19th and early 20th century Amsterdam. Look closely and you’ll see how Israels captured the quick pace of modern urban life. But more than that, his choice of subject reflected a shifting social landscape. Artists were turning away from traditional, academic subjects to depict the everyday experiences of ordinary people. Israels, like many of his contemporaries, found inspiration in the bustling streets and cafes. These were places where social classes mixed, and traditional hierarchies were challenged. Such institutional shifts saw the rise of a more democratic, accessible art world that expanded the artistic repertoire to include a broad range of social classes. To further understand this sketch, we can delve into archives of the art world at the time. These resources reveal the institutions that shaped artistic production and reception, and how artists like Israels responded to a rapidly changing society.