Theatervoorstelling 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this watercolor called 'Theatervoorstelling', or 'Theatrical Performance', sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It gives us a glimpse behind the curtain, revealing a world of performers, props, and set pieces. Israels, like many artists of his time, was fascinated by the theater. But instead of depicting the polished final product, he shows us the backstage reality. In doing so, Israels is not only revealing the hidden labor of the theater, but is also challenging the traditional hierarchy of art. His loose brushstrokes and unfinished quality further undermine the expectations of academic art. As historians, we might turn to theater archives, costume designs, and set construction manuals to better understand the social and institutional contexts of this painting. By doing so, we can see how Israels used his art to comment on the changing world around him and challenge the established norms of the art world.