Schetsen van een op het land werkende vrouw 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls created this sketch of a woman working the land using graphite. Israëls was part of the Hague School, a group of Dutch realist painters who sought to capture the everyday lives of ordinary people. In this study, the figures are bent over, obscured by their clothing, suggesting an empathy for the laboring classes. Israëls often depicted the hardships faced by fishing families and rural communities. His work reflects a broader 19th-century interest in representing the lives of those on the margins of society. The poses of the women convey a sense of weariness and resilience. Their connection to the land speaks to the intertwined histories of women, work, and nature. Through these sketches, Israëls offers a glimpse into the emotional and physical experiences of women whose stories are too often overlooked.