Staande vrouw, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels sketched this standing woman in profile with charcoal on paper. Made in the Netherlands, the drawing exemplifies Israels’s fascination with capturing fleeting moments of modern life, a preoccupation shared by many artists in Europe at the turn of the 20th century. The loose lines and unfinished quality of the sketch suggest an interest in the impression of a figure rather than a detailed portrait. Israels was part of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, focusing on everyday subjects and working ‘en plein air’ – outside the studio. This reflects a broader shift in artistic values, away from academic traditions and towards a more immediate engagement with the world. Understanding this sketch requires us to consider the institutions that shaped Israels’s career, like the art academies and exhibition spaces of the Netherlands. Investigating the critical reception of his work at the time, through contemporary reviews and exhibition catalogs, can provide a clearer picture of its place within the cultural landscape of the Netherlands.