Steegje tussen oude huizen 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls made this artwork with pencil and watercolour on paper, using everyday materials and processes to explore the aesthetic possibilities. The sketch presents a narrow passage between old buildings, drawn with delicate lines and washes. The artist expertly uses the fluidity of watercolour and the precision of pencil to capture light and shadow, giving texture to the weathered walls and roofs. It’s a very quick way of producing an image, and lends itself to an impressionistic style. This artwork embodies a certain social and cultural significance, offering a glimpse into the architecture and life of a past time. The scene suggests the importance of the common place, and the everyday, while it offers an understanding of the built environment, in which craft and industry are closely linked. Looking closely at the materials, making, and context of this artwork, we understand how it blurs the boundaries between fine art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the beauty found in the ordinary.