Jozef Israels 1824-1911

Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, Neenah, Wisconsin
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 1985

Cradled panel. The surface is in good condition with clean varnish. Under UV light: no evidence of inpainting; the signature is still under old varnish.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Though little is known about the origins of the present painting, it is closely related to another work from the 1880s. This other painting was seen in 1885 at the first Israëls show in the Netherlands and was called After Church.
Israëls painted this version especially for the Amsterdam art dealer Frans Buffa & Sons, probably in 1883 (which might be concluded from an invoice of 13 January 1884). After the exhibition, Buffa must have commented negatively about some parts of the picture, because Israëls wrote to Buffa in a letter from 17 November 1886 that he made some alterations. 'I believe it is much better now'.

The present painting does not differ much in style and composition. The differences lay more in the surroundings and atmosphere. If we look closely to the style one might think it was painted in the 1870s, to look at the loose, but still fine brushstrokes of the landscape. It is much similar to a painting like The Potato Harvest (1877, illustrated in exh. cat. Jozef Israëls 1824-1911, Groningen (Groninger Museum) and Amsterdam (Jewish Historical Museum, 1999-2000, no. 34a). On the other hand the landscape painting with a pair of lovers (Beau Temps, 1883, illustrated in ibid., no 90a) has the same delicate handling of the features of both figures and the short but very noticeably brushstroke of the foreground. Therefore 1880-83 would seem to be the most likely period of origin of Walking Home.

We would like to thank Dr. Dieuwertje Dekkers for providing this catalogue entry and for confirming the authenticity of this work.