Schetsboek XXXI met 10 bladen 1875 - 1934

Editor: We're looking at Isaac Israels' "Sketchbook XXXI with 10 Pages," made between 1875 and 1934 using drawing and mixed media on paper. It's… understated. What should we consider when approaching a seemingly simple object like this? Curator: Think about what a sketchbook *is*: a repository for ideas, studies, even failures. Israels, though associated with Dutch Impressionism, was deeply engaged with the social realities of his time. What marginalized figures might appear within these pages? Where did his gaze fall? This wasn’t just about aesthetics, was it? Editor: I guess not. So, it's not just about the finished artwork, but about Israels’ observations as he walked through the world? Curator: Precisely. Israels moved among different social circles. Think about the power dynamics at play when an artist from a privileged background sketches working-class people, performers, or women in domestic settings. Editor: So, his gaze, even in a simple sketch, can reveal something about the power structures of his time? Curator: Absolutely. Consider, whose stories were deemed worthy of representation, and how? This sketchbook, in its incompleteness, can invite us to critically examine Israels' perspective and the social narratives that he both participated in and, perhaps, challenged. We can look for social and political context in those incomplete images. Editor: It’s making me reconsider the role of even unfinished works and how they participate in broader social dialogues. Thanks. Curator: It challenges us to actively question and engage with what is presented. That critical awareness can open up a wealth of interpretation.