Schets van een naakt kind 1834 - 1911

This is a pencil drawing of a nude child by Jozef Israëls. Israëls, who lived from 1824 to 1911, was part of the Hague School, a group of Dutch artists who, in the later 19th century, chose to paint in a more somber and realistic style. Israëls, of Jewish descent, sought to capture the essence of human experience, often focusing on themes of poverty and resilience. Here, the subject is a child, rendered with an innocence that transcends time. The child's vulnerability is palpable; we become implicated in a historical gaze that often exploited children from marginalized communities. While the drawing may at first seem simple, it evokes deeper questions about representation, innocence, and the intersection of art and social responsibility. It invites us to reflect on the complexities of seeing and being seen.