Jozef Israels, Geb. 27 Jan. 1824 / Niets meer Possibly 1895

Jan Veth created this etching titled ‘Jozef Israels, Geb. 27 Jan. 1824 / Niets meer’ sometime between 1880 and 1925. This compelling image encapsulates themes of grief and desolation. The piece portrays an intimate, somber interior where a man sits hunched on a chair beside a bed with a shrouded figure. His posture and expression convey a deep sense of loss, emphasized by the Dutch phrase “Niets meer,” meaning “Nothing More.” The stark contrast between light and shadow heightens the emotional intensity, drawing us into his private moment of mourning. Israels, the subject of this portrait, was known for his sympathetic depictions of the working class and their daily struggles. Veth, deeply involved in the cultural and political debates of his time, captures Israels' empathy, reflecting broader societal concerns about poverty, illness, and death, themes that resonate with the realities of many during this period. The artwork, in its raw emotionality, invites us to contemplate the universal experience of loss.