Stilleven 1834 - 1906

Maria Vos created this pencil drawing, Stilleven, sometime in the 19th century. During this era, women artists often navigated a complex social terrain, balancing personal aspirations with societal expectations. Vos, who never married, dedicated herself to painting still lifes, a popular genre at the time, yet often associated with the domestic sphere and considered less prestigious than history painting. This particular drawing, with its delicate rendering, provides an intimate glimpse into her artistic process. Still life, often seen as a celebration of material culture, becomes here a quiet exploration of form and texture. How does it feel to consider this drawing, knowing that for women artists of the time, the act of creating art was often itself a statement? While Stilleven aligns with traditional subject matter, Vos’s dedication to her craft challenges the limitations placed on women in the art world, offering a subtle yet powerful narrative of self-expression and perseverance.