Staande figuur, op de rug gezien c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels created this sketch, "Standing Figure, Seen From the Back," using graphite on paper. Israels, a Dutch painter of Jewish heritage, lived and worked in a time of significant social change, as European society modernized and became more urbanized. Here, we see a figure, rendered with swift, confident strokes, their back turned to us, inviting us to contemplate their inner world. The choice to depict the figure from behind is particularly poignant. In doing so, Israels prompts us to consider the individual's relationship to the world around them. Are they lost in thought, or are they purposefully turning away? Israels’ work often explored the themes of modern life. The rapid urbanization of cities created new social classes, and new ways of moving through the world. The sketch offers a moment of contemplation, removed from the rapid change, to consider the individual amidst broader societal shifts. This intensely personal sketch captures a feeling of introspection.