Bramen (?) zoekende kinderen 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls created this pencil drawing titled "Bramen (?) zoekende kinderen" which roughly translates to "Children Searching for Blackberries," at an unknown date. Israëls was a leading figure in the Hague School, a group of Dutch realist painters who often depicted the lives of the working class. Here, Israëls sketches several figures, likely children, in various states of labor, bent over and searching. The loose lines and unfinished quality of the sketch evoke a sense of immediacy, as if capturing a fleeting moment. Israëls' work often focused on the dignity and hardship of the poor, reflecting the social concerns of his time. Instead of idyllic scenes, he captured the raw realities of labor and poverty. In this drawing, the obscured faces and hunched postures of the children emphasize their vulnerability and the physical demands placed upon them. It’s a poignant reminder of the social inequalities that defined 19th-century Europe.