Schets van een man met een hoed 1834 - 1911

"Schets van een man met een hoed" (Sketch of a man with a hat) is a pencil drawing by Dutch painter Jozef Israëls, completed between 1834 and 1911. The drawing, housed in the Rijksmuseum, depicts a man in a hat, seen from a high angle, with only a few, loose lines outlining his body. The gestural quality of the lines emphasizes the spontaneity of the artist’s observation, characteristic of Israëls' preliminary sketches. The simplicity of the composition, combined with the unfinished nature of the drawing, captures the essence of a fleeting moment. This sketch offers a glimpse into the artist's working process and his interest in capturing the human form through minimal, yet expressive strokes.