Fruitmand en drogende vissen aan een rail c. 1863 - 1864

This is an undated pencil drawing titled "Fruit basket and drying fish on a rail," by Maria Vos, held at the Rijksmuseum. The composition is sparse, divided into distinct zones. On the left, a woven basket filled with fruit sits above two anatomical studies; on the right, a row of fish hangs from a rail. Vos's drawing operates within a system of representation that balances realism with abstraction. The basket and fish are rendered with enough detail to be recognizable, yet the anatomical sketches are fragmentary, almost diagrammatic. Vos destabilizes the traditional still life. By including anatomical studies, she introduces a scientific element into the composition, blurring the lines between art and observation. The drawing's strength lies in its formal qualities. Vos employs a limited range of tones, using delicate pencil lines to create a sense of depth and texture. The repetition of forms and the play of light and shadow create a visual rhythm that draws the eye across the page. This rhythmic structure and formal complexity invites ongoing interpretation.