Staande vrouw in een lang gewaad 1849 - 1917

This is Matthijs Maris' sketch of a standing woman in a long gown, a work created by pencil on paper. Maris lived during a time of significant social change, including burgeoning feminist movements that questioned traditional gender roles. This drawing, while seemingly simple, captures an essence of femininity. The woman's form is enshrouded, almost hidden, by the gown, perhaps reflective of societal constraints placed upon women during that time. The use of the gown creates an image of modesty and constraint while challenging the way women were viewed and represented in art. Consider the gaze, the line of the body, the overall impression it leaves. The woman seems both present and absent, there but not fully revealed, inviting us to contemplate the complexities of female identity.