Boer, boerin en meisje met een oude vrouw 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls made this drawing, Boer, boerin en meisje met een oude vrouw, with pen in the 19th century. Israëls lived in a time of significant social change, with industrialization altering traditional rural life. Here, Israëls offers us a glimpse into the lives of rural Dutch people. The figures of a farmer, his wife, a girl, and an old woman are sketched with a delicate, sensitive hand. There is an emotional weight to the piece, as the figures seem weary, perhaps burdened by the realities of their existence. Israëls captures a quiet moment of intergenerational connection. The vulnerability in the child’s expression, mirrored by the protective stance of the old woman, speaks to the complex relationship between age and innocence. Israëls was known for his empathetic portrayals of the working class and the poor. Through this drawing he elevates the everyday experiences of these individuals, inviting viewers to reflect on the dignity inherent in their lives.