Boomstronk begroeid met planten c. 1856 - 1870

Maria Vos made this drawing of a tree trunk overgrown with plants during the late 19th century. Vos lived at a time when women artists were often confined to domestic subjects. Vos, however, navigated the art world with considerable success. Though remembered for her still lifes, Vos's sketchbooks reveal a keen interest in nature. Her close observations of the natural world become almost scientific in their precision. In this drawing, the viewer is invited to examine the textures of bark and the delicate forms of leaves. Vos seems to be making a statement about life and decay. The fallen tree trunk is not simply deadwood, but a host for new life. Consider the limitations placed upon women artists during the 19th century and the ways that Vos seemed to overcome these by developing her own independent vision. Her art becomes a testament to endurance, and growth within confinement.