Man, in profiel c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this sketch titled 'Man, in profile', in the Netherlands, but we don't know exactly when. In its time, sketching was an important skill for artists, and the art academy was central in teaching this. Israels' drawing could relate to debates around social class. The sketch offers an intimate glimpse into the artist's gaze. Was he perhaps interested in representing the working class? The Rijksmuseum's collection, like many national museums, wasn’t always as diverse as it could have been. Studying Israels' broader body of work, looking at exhibition histories, and reading contemporary art criticism can give us a clearer picture of the cultural values circulating in Israels' circles, but it's always important to remember that history is not a fixed narrative but something we construct through research.