Handkar bij een opslagplaats in de open lucht c. 1863 - 1864

Maria Vos created this pencil drawing, "Handcart at a storage place in the open air" in 1863. The sketch depicts a handcart loaded with goods, positioned near what appears to be a storage area outdoors. Vos was active during a time of significant industrial and economic change in the Netherlands. Images of labor and commerce began to reflect the social dynamics of the time. This particular sketch is interesting because it is unidealized. Vos presents a raw, almost documentary-like view of everyday labor. There is nothing romantic about this scene. The Rijksmuseum, where this drawing is housed, plays a role in shaping our understanding and appreciation of Dutch art. Institutions like this one affect which artworks are valued and how they're interpreted. As historians, we use archives, period documents, and institutional records to understand the social and cultural contexts. Art is not created in a vacuum; it's contingent on the world in which it was made.