Liggende leeuw 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls created this pencil drawing, "Liggende leeuw," which translates to "Reclining Lion," sometime between 1824 and 1911. Israëls was a leading figure in the Hague School, a group of Dutch artists who, in the late 19th century, turned away from grand Romanticism and academic painting. Instead, they chose to focus on the everyday lives of ordinary people, particularly those in rural communities. In this light, the lion, a traditional symbol of strength and power, might be seen as an allegory for the common man, worn down by the hardships of daily life. The loose sketch style reflects the Hague School's preference for capturing the fleeting moments of real life, rather than idealized or staged scenes. By studying Israëls' letters, contemporary art criticism, and the social history of the Netherlands, we can understand how this seemingly simple drawing speaks volumes about the changing role of art and the artist in a rapidly modernizing world.