Studie, vermoedelijk een kind 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls created this sketch, Studie, vermoedelijk een kind, using graphite. Israëls lived through a time of significant social change and industrial growth, witnessing the struggles of the working class, particularly in rural communities. Israëls often depicted scenes of poverty and hardship, lending humanity to those who were often overlooked or marginalized. In this sketch, we see what is thought to be a child in a dark field. The child’s figure is small and indistinct against the landscape. Israëls himself came from a Jewish background and was deeply aware of social injustices. It is possible to view Israëls' emotional investment in the lives and experiences of ordinary people as an exploration of his identity and social concerns. The sketch encourages us to look beyond conventional representations of childhood and consider the emotional and social realities experienced by children in difficult circumstances.