Kunstenaar die in de open lucht werkt 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls made this pencil drawing entitled ‘Kunstenaar die in de open lucht werkt’ – or ‘Artist working in the open air’ in English. The late nineteenth century saw the rise of artists leaving their studios to paint ‘en plein air’ or ‘in the open air’. This was enabled by the invention of new technologies such as paint tubes. Israëls himself was a prominent member of the Hague School, a group of Dutch artists who worked in this manner. Look how the artist in the image is sheltered from the elements by an umbrella. Perhaps this is a comment on the changing status of the artist, now free to roam and record the landscape, but still reliant on the patronage and technologies that enable their practice. The history of art is inextricably linked with social and institutional histories. We can learn about the changing role of the artist through historical sources, such as letters, diaries, and critical reviews. These can provide valuable insights into the social conditions that shape artistic production.