Jongen op klompen met een hoed 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls made this pencil drawing, "Boy in Clogs with a Hat," sometime during his career in the Netherlands. The sketch exemplifies Israëls' focus on everyday life, particularly that of the rural poor. During the 19th century, the Netherlands, like much of Europe, experienced significant social and economic changes. Israëls' work reflects the growing interest in the lives of ordinary people. The clogs and simple clothing suggest a life of manual labor. The hat could be interpreted as a symbol of the boy's aspirations or perhaps his attempt to emulate the dress of a higher social class. Israëls was part of the Hague School, a group of artists who rejected the academic style of the time in favor of a more realistic and emotional depiction of Dutch life. To understand the artwork, we might consult census records, newspapers and other archival materials. This helps us comprehend the social context in which the artwork was created and displayed and the place of this boy in Dutch society.