Studie van een kind 1834 - 1911

This is Jozef Israëls's pencil drawing "Studie van een kind" or "Study of a Child," housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Israëls was deeply moved by the hardships of the poor, particularly the fishermen and their families in the Dutch coastal towns. Israëls's decision to focus on the lives of ordinary people reflects the Realist movement, which sought to depict the world as it was, without romanticizing it. The drawing captures a child, possibly from a fishing family, her expression hinting at the hardships she faces. Her simple clothing and head covering speak to her humble background. The sketch's raw and unfinished quality brings viewers closer to the child's reality. Israëls once stated, "Art should not only be seen, but felt." In this study, he invites us to feel the weight of the child's world, prompting reflection on childhood, poverty, and resilience.