Huis in een bos c. 1856 - 1870

Maria Vos sketched this ‘House in a Forest’ with graphite. The house, nestled amidst towering trees, evokes a sense of retreat and solitude. The forest—a recurring motif throughout art history—often symbolizes the subconscious, the untamed aspects of the human psyche. Think of the dense, mysterious woods in Northern Renaissance paintings, where symbolic creatures and hidden dangers lurk. It is in the forest that the Brothers Grimm located many of their fairy tales. Consider how the forest's symbolism has evolved; from a place of peril to a site of romantic escape. The Romantics would seek refuge in nature to confront their anxieties, finding solace in the sublime power of the natural world. The house, too, speaks volumes. Is it a sanctuary or a prison? Perhaps both, depending on the viewer's own state of mind. This duality taps into our collective memory, prompting us to confront our deepest fears and desires.