Figuur op een verhoging, op de rug gezien c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels sketched this figure on paper, but its date is unknown. The quickly rendered lines depict a figure standing on an elevation with their back turned. Israels was working during a period of significant social change in the Netherlands. Industrialization and urbanization were reshaping Dutch society, leading to new social classes and cultural attitudes. Artists like Israels often responded to these changes by depicting modern life, including urban scenes and portraits of ordinary people. Israels was part of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement which sought to capture fleeting moments in everyday life. To fully appreciate Israels's place in this history, we turn to archives, period publications, and other historical documents. This kind of contextual research helps us to understand the complex interplay between art and society.