At sea 

Jozef Israëls painted this oil on canvas, entitled 'At Sea', sometime in the mid- to late-nineteenth century. It depicts a woman carrying a child, likely returning from the sea to her home in the village. The painting offers insight into the lives of working-class women in Holland during that era. Israëls was a member of the Hague School, a group of Dutch artists who focused on realism, and this is very apparent in the picture’s muted colors and its straightforward, unsentimental depiction of the subject. We see her as someone strong, capable, and burdened. The scene may act as a statement about the changing social and economic conditions of the time. Many people were moving from rural areas to cities in search of work, as industrialization transformed Dutch society. Yet here we have a scene of continuity. It may be that Israëls, like many artists of his time, was interested in preserving something of the old ways of life. As historians, we can understand the artist's intentions by delving into archival materials, exhibition records, and critical reviews. By examining the social and institutional contexts, we gain a deeper understanding of the painting's meanings.