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Student Artwork Guide

Two Donkeys

Isaac Lazarus Israels

Name Class Date
Isaac Lazarus Israels, Two Donkeys. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Isaac Lazarus Israels topimpressionists.com/en/artists/isaac-lazarus-israels/
Artist’s dates
1865 – 1934
Movement
Impressionism Painters working fast and outdoors to catch how light actually looked at one moment, rather than finishing smoothly in a studio.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Isaac Lazarus Israels died in 1934; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2004.

Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

Two Donkeys — Isaac Lazarus Israels Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Two Donkeys — Isaac Lazarus Israels

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1860
  2. 1870
  3. 1880
  4. 1890
  5. 1900
  6. 1910
  7. 1920
  8. 1930

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 69 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Isaac Lazarus Israels (1865–1934) every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1894 Main working years: 1894–1916 Late works: from 1916

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/isaac-lazarus-israels-two-donkeys-9CWFSJ-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Espresso #312d29

    Catalogued palette

    • #312D29
    • #958673
    • #9DA4AA
    • #5F5953

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Espresso
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Balanced Harmony How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Isaac Lazarus Israels over the last twelve months — 9 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 49.2%
    2. 2 Netherlands 19.7%
    3. 3 Norway 16.4%
    4. 4 United States of America 4.9%
    5. 5 Peru 3.3%
    6. 6 Brazil 1.6%
    7. 7 Germany 1.6%
    8. 8 United Kingdom 1.6%
    9. 9 Hong Kong 1.6%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Isaac Lazarus Israels

    1. 1 In the Dance Hall, 1893 12.3%
    2. 2 Figures in a park, 1908 12.3%
    3. 3 Cafe dansant, Moulin de la Galette 6.2%
    4. 4 Shop Window 4.6%
    5. 5 The sisters d_Aineff Sun 3.1%
    6. 6 Man with Three Girls on a Bench in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam 3.1%
    7. 7 Dienstmeisjes op de Leidsegracht, Isaac Israels, c. 1890 - c. 1900, 1900 3.1%
    8. 8 Transport of colonial soldiers, 1884 1.5%
    9. 9 Girl reading, 1906 1.5%
    10. 10 Show-girl 1.5%
    11. 11 Javanese Dancer, 1916 1.5%
    12. 12 Japanese woman in red kimono Sun 1.5%
    13. 13 Trommelslaagster 1.5%
    14. 14 Housemaid with Pram 1.5%
    15. 15 The Drummer 1.5%
    16. 16 Modistenatelier 1.5%
    17. 17 Cafe dansant Moulin Galette Sun 1.5%
    18. 18 rue clignancourt 1.5%
    19. 19 Twee Meisjes In De Sneeuw 1.5%
    20. — Two Donkeys this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 62.7% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 164 works by this artist, of which 43 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    Two Donkeys — Isaac Lazarus Israels Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Isaac Lazarus Israels

    Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Isaac Lazarus Israëls: A Life in Amsterdam Impressionism

    Born: Amsterdam, Netherlands (February 3, 1865)

    Died: The Hague, Netherlands (October 7, 1934)

    Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

    Isaac Lazarus Israëls was born into a family deeply rooted in the Dutch art world. He was the son of Jozef Israëls, a prominent painter associated with the Hague School, and Aleida Schaap. This artistic heritage fostered an early appreciation for painting within Isaac, who displayed remarkable talent from a young age. Between 1880 and 1882, he studied at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, where he met George Hendrik Breitner, forming a lifelong friendship that would significantly influence his artistic trajectory. At just sixteen years old, Israëls achieved early recognition when he sold "Bugle Practice" to artist and collector Hendrik Willem Mesdag even before it was fully completed. Portraits of his grandmother and a family friend, created in the same year, demonstrated his already considerable technical skill.

    The Amsterdam Impressionist

    Israëls became a leading figure within the Amsterdam Impressionism movement. Influenced by the philosophy of the Tachtigers—a group of writers and artists advocating for style to reflect content and emotionally charged subjects represented through intense technique—he shifted his focus towards capturing the vibrant scenes of everyday life in Amsterdam. He frequently spent summers with his father in Scheveningen, painting colorful seaside landscapes. His work reflected a desire to portray the bustling streets, cafes, and cabarets of Amsterdam, moving away from the more traditional subject matter favored by earlier Dutch masters.

    Key Works: "Transport of Colonial Soldiers" (Kröller-Müller Museum), "The Coffee Sorters" (Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen), Portrait of Mata Hari (Kröller-Müller Museum)

    Travels and Artistic Evolution

    In 1904, Israëls relocated to Paris, establishing a studio and embracing the city's unique motifs. He further explored his interest in fashion by studying at Paquin and Drecoll fashion houses. The outbreak of World War I prompted his return to Holland, where he primarily focused on portraiture. Following the war, he embarked on extensive travels throughout Europe and Asia, including two years spent sketching and painting in India and the Dutch East Indies. These experiences broadened his artistic horizons, introducing him to new subjects and perspectives that enriched his later work.

    Legacy and Recognition

    Isaac Lazarus Israëls left behind a significant body of work celebrated for its vibrant colors, loose brushwork, and insightful portrayals of everyday life. His paintings are now housed in prestigious museums worldwide, including the Van Gogh Museum and the Mauritshuis. He achieved international recognition, notably winning a Gold Medal at the 1928 Olympic Games for his painting "Red Rider." Israëls' legacy lies not only in his artistic achievements but also in his contribution to the development of Amsterdam Impressionism, solidifying his place as one of the most important Dutch painters of his era.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Two Donkeys

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/isaac-lazarus-israels-two-donkeys-9CWFSJ-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Israels, Isaac Lazarus. Two Donkeys. n.d., https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/isaac-lazarus-israels-two-donkeys-9CWFSJ-en/
    APA
    Israels, Isaac Lazarus (n.d.). Two Donkeys [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/isaac-lazarus-israels-two-donkeys-9CWFSJ-en/
    Chicago
    Isaac Lazarus Israels. Two Donkeys. n.d. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/isaac-lazarus-israels-two-donkeys-9CWFSJ-en/
    Harvard
    Israels, Isaac Lazarus (n.d.) Two Donkeys. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/isaac-lazarus-israels-two-donkeys-9CWFSJ-en/

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    Two Donkeys — Isaac Lazarus Israels Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Two Donkeys — Isaac Lazarus Israels

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: donkeys, beach scene, coastal art. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at Portrait of Mata Hari (1916), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    Two Donkeys — Isaac Lazarus Israels Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    Is a download available for "Two Donkeys"?

    The image of "Two Donkeys" by Isaac Lazarus Israels can be downloaded from the artwork's Download page: a high-resolution digital image download.

    What subjects appear in "Two Donkeys" by Isaac Lazarus Israels?

    The subjects of "Two Donkeys" are donkeys, beach scene, coastal art, impressionism, landscape, animals, tranquility, dutch art.

    Is "Two Donkeys" by Isaac Lazarus Israels in the public domain, and why?

    "Two Donkeys" by Isaac Lazarus Israels is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. Copyright duration runs from the artist's death, which occurred in 1934.