Zeilschip op een rivier 1834 - 1906

Maria Vos created this sketch of a sailboat on a river sometime in the 19th century. Vos lived at a time when women artists were gaining more recognition, yet they still faced significant barriers to their careers. Many, like Vos, came from artistic families or were independently wealthy, providing them with both training and studio space. While the art world began to open up, themes and subjects were gendered. Women were encouraged to focus on still life, portraits, and genre scenes depicting domestic life. Here, Vos has created a landscape, a subject often dominated by male artists. Her choice reflects both her personal interests and the shifting boundaries of what women artists could explore. The sketch itself, with its subtle shading and delicate lines, evokes a quiet, reflective mood. This is not a grand, heroic scene, but a more intimate and personal portrayal of the natural world.