Israëls, Jozef (1824–1911)

Dutch painter. In 1870 he settled in The Hague and became a leader of the Hague School of landscape painters, who shared some of the ideals of the Barbizon School in France. His low-keyed and sentimental scenes of peasant life recall the work of Millet.

Born in Groningen of Jewish parents, he trained in Amsterdam under Kruseman, and in Paris with Delaroche and Vernet, and was also influenced by Dicot. Having settled in The Hague, he gave up history painting for scenes of peasants and fishermen, usually painted in low-key colours, often almost monochromatically.

His son, Isaac Israëls (1865–1934), was also a painter, but his work is very different from his father's. He associated with George Breitner (1857–1923), the leading Dutch Impressionist, and painted brightly coloured scenes of social life.