Studie c. 1886 - 1903

This is a study by Isaac Israels, made with graphite on paper, part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum. Though simple in its execution, this artwork reveals a lot about the artistic and social climate in which it was made. Israels belonged to a generation of Dutch artists who turned away from the historical and romantic subjects favored by the academy. Instead, they looked to modern life for their inspiration. The impressionistic style, with its loose brushwork and emphasis on capturing fleeting moments, was seen as a democratic approach to art. Israels and his contemporaries saw it as a way to represent the experiences of ordinary people. To understand Israels’ art, it is essential to look at the social conditions that shaped his vision. Newspaper archives, exhibition reviews, and the records of artist societies all help us to understand the public role of art in the Netherlands at the turn of the century.