Weg in een heuvellandschap 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls made this drawing of a road in a hilly landscape with graphite on paper. The material itself, graphite, is central to understanding this work. We see the artist’s marks, the varying pressure of the pencil creating depth and shadow. The texture of the paper also plays a role, the tooth of the surface catching the graphite and adding a subtle graininess to the image. This directness of method gives the drawing an immediacy, a sense of being in the moment with the artist. Israëls was part of the Hague School, who often worked en plein air, or outdoors, directly observing and responding to the landscape. This approach, prioritizing direct experience and the artist's hand, was in some ways a reaction to the increasing industrialization and mass production of the time. The drawing then, becomes a record of Israëls’ personal encounter with the landscape. By understanding the materials and methods, we can appreciate the drawing not just as a representation of a scene, but as a testament to the artist’s process and the value of individual expression.