Staande figuren rond olifanten 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch of standing figures around elephants with charcoal. The sketch gives the impression of a fleeting moment, a snapshot of everyday life in the Dutch East Indies. Israels, born in 1865, belonged to a generation of artists who sought to capture modern life in all its dynamism. During this period, the Netherlands was a major colonial power, and images of the East Indies circulated widely, shaping perceptions of the exotic 'other.' How does Israels engage with this colonial context? The sketch seems less interested in portraying the exotic or the picturesque, and focuses on the interaction between people and animals. By depicting the scene in such a sketchy, informal manner, Israels avoids the formal, idealized style often used in colonial imagery. To fully understand this artwork, one might consult travel literature, colonial archives, and studies of Dutch orientalism, gaining insight into the complex relationship between the Netherlands and its colonial past. This helps us appreciate the role of art in reflecting and shaping social attitudes.