Leunende man 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Leunende man, with pencil. We can see the loose lines and unfinished quality that characterise the artist’s work. Israels was part of a generation of Dutch painters at the end of the 19th century who turned away from the formal traditions of the art academy. Israels was interested in capturing fleeting moments of everyday life. Living and working between the Netherlands, London and Paris, he found his subjects on the streets, in cafes, and theatres. Here, it's intriguing to consider the man's social class and place in society. Is he a worker during a break, or someone who is homeless? To understand the social conditions in which Israels was working, it's helpful to look at newspapers and magazines of the time. The archive can reveal much about the artist's engagement with modern life. Ultimately, the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.