Watermolen tussen bomen 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls created this sketch of a Watermolen tussen bomen—or Watermill Among Trees—in the late 19th century. Israëls was a Jewish Dutch painter who became a central figure in the Hague School, a group of artists who depicted everyday life and landscapes in the Netherlands. Israëls came from a generation deeply affected by social and political change. With its focus on the ordinary, the Hague School sought to capture the essence of Dutch identity during a period of rapid modernization. This sketch, with its rustic mill and serene natural setting, evokes a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time. Watermills, like the one depicted, were crucial for local economies, yet their existence was increasingly threatened by industrial advancements. Israëls’ choice to represent the mill in such loving detail speaks to the complex relationship between progress and tradition, while capturing the quiet dignity of rural life.