Jozef Israëls Quotes

..but I must have it back [a sketch of mother with child at the breast] very soon, because I become attached to it.. .Such a sketch is a part of my life; it always stays. I use it ten or twenty times.. .It is a foundation on which I build. (translation from the original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

version in Dutch (citaat van Israëls, in het Nederlands): Is er een verschil tussen een joodse zee en een niet-joodse zee? Wat is een joodse manier van schilderen?

..isn't it stupid that what you were writing in your article is still understood by so few people. Among others there was somebody - I believe in the [magazine] 'Nieuws van de Dag' -, who thought the 'Old woman in front of the hearth' [painting of Israels].. ..- how beautifully painted - was as sickening subject. - Furthermore, Alberd. Thijm [Dutch art-critic and very critical of Israel's' often applied 'dejection'] was also raving strongly about my pulling down of the togs of the poor people. Well-roared, lion, I thought - well understood [ironic!] for what reason I painted it.. (translation from the original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

version in original Dutch (citaat van Jozef Israëls in Nederlands): De titel [van een album met prenten van Israels en gedichten daarop van ] zal toch hoop ik niet zijn, 'Kroost der zee'.- zulks vind ik van een onuitstaanbare wanklank laat het heeten 'schetsen uit het visschersleven van B naar J. ' dat vind ik de beste eenvoudigste en meest aantrekkelijke naam. Tevens het woordje 'naar' doet mij regt, daar anders men meenen zoude dat ik ze naar Beets en niet Beets naar mij gemaakt heeft.

He [the painter J.A. Kruseman in Amsterdam] is very amicable with his students without exposing his mastery to disdain. I sometimes see him painting from time to time. And I almost visit daily his studio. You must know that his students don't work in the same room where the big man is staying.. .Sometimes one or two days pass that he doesn't see our work, he let follow the students their own way most of the time.. .Thanks God he tells me I have feeling and talent. (translation from original Dutch text: Fons Heijnsbroek).

I want to put over my emotions in the spectator, - I want to make him fascinated by the scene, which I have not only seen with my naked eyes, but which I have seen moving deep inside myself. (translation from the original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

..on my travels, for example, abroad,. .I see things that attract me, in the works of others, - which impress me. That's what you reflect upon at times. And when you come home you think: Me too have to make something like that.. .Then you start, and when it's finished it looks like the work of that person or another.. .But your own originality doesn't get lost, - your sentiment remains!. .And this happens not only to me, - this happens to others also.. .Unintentionally you continue to build on motives of others.. (translation from the original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

version in Dutch (citaat van Jozef Israëls, in het Nederlands): ..maar, ik moet ze [een schets van moeder met kind aan de borst] heel gauw terug hebben, want ik hecht eraan.. .Zoo'n schets is een deel van mijn leven; die blijft altijd. Die gebruik ik tien, twintig maal.. .'t Is een basis, waar ik op bouw.

And there we have my good rabbi.. ..he came up so tired in the studio, and then I put him down here. There was such a real seat in that guy, so with his pants slumped. That's nice, isn't it, that long black cloak with those wide folds and that slackly beer mat. He is holding the Torah role in his arm, do you see?. ..I known that old rab for a lot of years already, and with Purim and Rosh HaShanah [Jewish New Year] he comes faithfully around for his douceur [tip]. (translation from the original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

Lord, oh Lord, will I return to you once, being a genuine artist. Will all those Art lovers once behold my works with reverence and the laurel of Art then adorn my head.. .I experience so ardently all the beauty of my noble career.. .And once again I call to you, it would be much better not to live at all than being disappointed in my feeling. (translation from original Dutch text: Fons Heijnsbroek).

[quoting a verse from the Torah, including some faults]: Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on this road, and to bring you to the place which I have prepared; Exodus 23:20. (translation from Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek).

version in original Dutch (kort gedicht van Jozef Israëls, in het Nederlands):
Zoo is het
Er hingen eens twee schilderijen,
Juist vlak tegenover elkaar
Regt kleurig en schitterend de eene
En d'ander eenvoudig en waar
** Dat eenvoud en waarheid het kenmerk
Van wetenschap is en van kunst
Och, dat kan het volk niet begrijpen
En [aan] 't klatergoud schonk het zijn gunst.

Take care for purity in the paint and not so stinky thick of grease, thin, thin, thin! And just on the light [parts in the painting] here and there a small push of thick [paint].. ..thick house-interiors are unpleasant - long drawing before you start and arrange pleasantly together all things before you start to paint - if the money does not bother you, it is always useful to visit Rott. [Rotterdam]. (translation from the original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

I take advantage of a painting that I now have at the Paris' exhibition. 3 orphan girls who are sewing in an interior room. I have sold [it] there for a nice price and have heard some interesting reviews published about it. (translation from the original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

I heard nothing from his excellence [Mr. Keiller bought a picture of 1000 pond and sent Israëls the money but no word about the picture].. .I am sure he will be satisfied by it when he hears it is good. I have some practice in those matters of amateurs. The best pictures are the worst for them naturally. They have not the tools to understand it, but when they hear other saying it is fine, they make a high breast saying 'I' ordered that picture..