Portret van een onbekende vrouw c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this sketch of an unknown woman with a pencil on paper. The work is an example of the artist’s interest in capturing the everyday life of women in the Netherlands. Israels was a member of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, which sought to capture fleeting moments and sensory impressions. The loose lines and unfinished quality of the sketch reflect this aesthetic, suggesting a quick study rather than a formal portrait. Consider the social context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when women's roles in society were changing, and how the artist engages with those changing social roles. This sketch prompts us to think about the politics of representation, particularly in terms of gender. To further explore the themes in this work, one might consider exploring the archives of Dutch art institutions, as well as historical accounts of women's lives in the Netherlands during this period. By doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural forces that shaped the artwork.