Twee vrouwen en een kind 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels created "Two Women and a Child" with pencil on paper. Israels, a Jewish man who lived through both World Wars, often depicted the realities of everyday life. Here, we see a rapid sketch which captures an intimate moment between women and a child. The intersection of gender and domesticity invites us to consider the roles assigned to women, particularly mothers, in turn-of-the-century Dutch society. What are the narratives implied through the body language and positioning of the figures? What are the details Israels includes, and what is left to our imagination? Israels' style diverged from traditional, idealized representations, offering a more candid portrayal of his subjects. These subjects transcend a simple sketch, and shape our understanding of the individual and collective experiences of women and children in modern life.