Author Description

Jozef Israels (1824-1911), famous for his portrayals of life in Holland's fishing villages and of scenes from Jewish and peasant life, was the eminence grise of the Hague School. Contemporaries saw him as a latterday Rembrandt, whose art gave his subjects a voice. This representative and extensive survey of his life and work marks the 175th anniversary of Israels's birth. Over one hundred paintings, watercolors, drawings, and etchings are illustrated in color and discussed. Many of these works, drawn from public and private collections in Holland and abroad, have not been exhibited for years. The introductory essays focus on Israels's career and artistic development, his affinity with Rembrandt, and his Jewish background.