Twee staande figuren 1849 - 1917

Matthijs Maris created this pencil drawing, titled ‘Twee staande figuren’, which translates to Two Standing Figures, on paper sometime in the late 19th century. As an artist working in the Netherlands, Maris was part of a cultural milieu grappling with modernization and industrialization, themes that filtered into his more finished works. This sketch, however, offers a glimpse into his working process. Notice how the loose, almost scribbled lines convey a sense of movement and uncertainty. The figures themselves are not clearly defined, suggesting a fleeting moment or perhaps a dreamlike state. The grid of the paper shows that this wasn't intended as a finished work of art to be hung in a gallery, but rather as a study or exploration of form. Understanding this drawing requires us to look beyond the surface and consider the social conditions that shaped artistic production in Maris’ time. By researching the artist's life, his other works, and the cultural debates of the period, we can begin to appreciate the complex interplay between art, society, and the individual imagination.