Studieblad, onder andere met roeiboten, bomen en een dakrand 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls captured this study with graphite, featuring boats, trees, and a roofline. The boats, resting idly, carry a rich cargo of symbolism. Since ancient times, vessels have signified journeys, transitions, and the voyage of life itself. We see echoes of this in funerary boats of the Egyptians, transporting souls to the afterlife. The boat as a symbol of passage takes on varied forms across cultures. Consider, too, the trees. Bare, skeletal branches reach upward, evoking both vulnerability and resilience. Trees, as universal symbols, connect us to the cycle of life, death, and regeneration. These motifs intertwine, reminding us of the cyclical nature of existence. The roofline—a signifier of shelter, protection, and the domestic sphere. Together, these symbols resonate on a subconscious level, engaging our collective memory and innate understanding of life's passages and protections.