Biddend meisje bij een stoel 1834 - 1911

This drawing of a praying girl by Jozef Israëls is held at the Rijksmuseum. Israëls painted during the Hague School era, which began around 1860 during a time of significant social change. The Netherlands was becoming more industrialized and urbanized and there was growing concern for the poor and working class. Israëls, along with other artists in the Hague School, sought to capture the beauty and simplicity of rural life, but also to draw attention to the struggles of ordinary people. He often depicted fishermen and peasant families in their daily routines and this quiet image of a girl in prayer fits into that wider project of social realism. The image is rendered in subtle greys, and the girl is humbly dressed and posed. For art historians, this is a moment of reflection on how art can reflect, and engage with, the most pressing social issues of its time. Scholarly research, including letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews, can provide valuable insights into the artist's intentions and the artwork's reception.