Landschap 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls created "Landschap," a landscape drawing, using graphite. Israëls lived through a time of significant social change, including the rise of industrialization and urbanization in the Netherlands. Israëls was deeply connected to the Hague School, a group of artists who sought to capture the authentic experiences of ordinary people. His work reflects this ethos, often depicting scenes of rural life and the working class with empathy and realism. Here, the composition draws our eye to the verticality of the tree trunk, a stark and almost lonely figure in the landscape. The landscape itself is represented with economy of line, but it evokes a sense of place. The graphite rendering softens the scene and prompts introspection. It asks us to consider the relationship between humanity and the environment. What Israëls does so well here is not just to show us a landscape, but to let us feel it. The simplicity of the drawing creates an emotional connection.