Waterput met een afdak c. 1860 - 1865

Curator: So, here we have a quick pen and ink sketch titled "Waterput met een afdak", which translates to "Well with a Roof," dating from about 1860-1865, created by Maria Vos. Editor: My first thought is of a fleeting moment captured. It feels raw and unpolished, like a glimpse into the artist's personal sketchbook. The stark contrast of the ink on toned paper creates a somewhat desolate, even lonely atmosphere. Curator: It’s important to contextualize this as a landscape, but more importantly as a personal study. The lack of refinement suggests it was never intended for public consumption, which changes how we can interpret its social and political implications. Editor: Exactly, this sketch prompts the question: who had access to clean water during this period, and who didn’t? Whose labor was involved in maintaining such a well? The inclusion of what seems to be some containers or vessels for water storage points to class disparity, if you will. Curator: You’re right to bring that to the forefront. This artwork provides a starting point for considering water rights and social access within 19th-century rural communities, reminding us that resources have always been unequally distributed. Looking at Vos's larger body of work, do you see these themes emerging there, or does this image stand more as an isolated reflection of her time? Editor: Isolated is maybe a bit too limiting of an expression for it, as most likely Vos was making statements on behalf of the rights and possibilities available to woman, but I don’t see a predominant trend or overt activism elsewhere. The strength of this sketch lies in its suggestive potential, encouraging us to excavate the hidden stories beneath the surface of rural life. Curator: I agree. I think by engaging with works like these we can uncover not only an understanding of the world they lived in but also open avenues to address existing socio-economic disparities. It also prompts discussion around art production that resists established modes of exhibition and dissemination. Editor: Ultimately, Vos's "Waterput met een afdak" functions as more than just a simple landscape study. It embodies an invitation to explore broader issues, opening up spaces for dialogue between art and society.