Studie van een staande vrouw 1849 - 1917

Matthijs Maris’s study of a standing woman, rendered in pencil, presents us with an ethereal figure draped in what appears to be a simple cloth. The woman's head covering is reminiscent of the veils found in Renaissance depictions of biblical women, from the Virgin Mary to allegorical figures of modesty. This covering speaks volumes, traversing cultures and epochs, signifying purity, mourning, or spiritual contemplation. Yet, here, it softens the figure, as the veil obscures rather than reveals, creating an aura of mystery around the subject, who looks hopefully towards the sky. Consider how similar draping appears in classical sculptures of goddesses or nymphs, these motifs have resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.