Watermolen met harkende vrouw 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls made this pencil drawing, Watermill with Raking Woman, sometime in the late nineteenth century. Israëls, belonging to the Hague School, was known for depicting the lives of the working class, particularly those in rural communities. The drawing shows a woman bent over, raking in a field, with a watermill in the background. Consider the daily lives of women in the 19th century. Their labor was essential to the functioning of both the household and the rural economy, yet this work often went unseen and unacknowledged. Israëls seems to capture both the hardship and the dignity of labor. He once said, "I don't want people to admire my technique; I want them to feel what I feel." The sketch-like quality of the drawing adds to its emotional impact, conveying a sense of immediacy and intimacy. It's as if we're catching a glimpse of a fleeting moment in the life of this woman, a moment that speaks to broader social and economic realities. As you stand here, reflect on the stories of those whose labor has shaped our world, and the art that seeks to make them visible.