Glooiend landschap aan een waterkant, vermoedelijk van de Rijn c. 1860 - 1865

This delicate pencil drawing of a landscape near the Rhine river was sketched by Maria Vos. Notice how the riverbank, with its gentle curve, dominates the foreground, drawing our eyes along the water's edge. The depiction of water’s edge has its roots in ancient art, symbolizing transition and the boundary between known and unknown. Think of the River Styx, a boundary between life and death in Greek Mythology. This visual motif has reappeared in various forms throughout art history, often to evoke a sense of mystery or the passage of time. The riverbanks appear and reappear through centuries, each time reflecting the cultural context of its time. Here, Vos captures a quiet observation of the river; and in its unagitated form, it invites us to contemplate our own connection to the natural world. The image becomes a mirror, reflecting our subconscious longing for peace and continuity in the face of ever changing times.