Bos langs een holle weg 1854 - 1878

Marie Adolphine van der Goes van Dirxland created "Bos langs een holle weg" using etching techniques, which was popular amongst women artists during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Van Dirxland, born into a Dutch noble family, had the privilege and opportunity to pursue artistic interests, which were not always available to women of other social classes. The image presents a path receding into the distance, flanked by tall trees. The use of etching allows for fine details, creating texture and depth that invite you to step into the scene. The interplay of light and shadow may reflect the artist’s internal landscape, where societal expectations and personal freedom created both a sense of constraint and an opening for exploration. The path vanishing into the horizon may symbolize the journey she and other women artists of her time were embarking on, as they navigated and reshaped their roles in society and the art world.