Boerderij en bomen aan een weg 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls made this pencil drawing of a farm and trees by a road. Israëls worked in the Netherlands, a country that had undergone significant social and economic changes in the 19th century, including the decline of traditional agriculture and the rise of industrialization. In response, a new artistic movement emerged, focused on realism and the depiction of everyday life, particularly of the rural poor. This drawing offers us an opportunity to consider the relationship between artistic expression and the social context in which it was produced. Israëls creates meaning through his choice of subject matter and his loose, expressive style. The farm and surrounding trees evoke a sense of the Dutch countryside, while the sketch-like quality of the drawing gives it an immediacy and authenticity. As historians, we can use sources such as letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews to better understand the social and cultural context in which Israëls created this drawing.