Studie 1849 - 1917

This is a pencil sketch of boats on paper by Matthijs Maris, a Dutch artist who lived from 1839 to 1917. While undated, we can contextualize this study in relation to the rise of the modern art market, and the changing function of the artist’s sketch. In 19th-century Europe, the art market became more established, and sketches became more popular among collectors. This had implications for the social status of the artist. No longer working for the church or aristocratic patrons, artists had to appeal to a broad public through art dealers and exhibitions. While intended as preparatory studies, sketches like this one would sometimes be sold as finished works. In the Netherlands, artists like Maris were influenced by the Hague School movement, which emphasized realism and the depiction of everyday life. Maris’s sketch embodies this focus on the ordinary, yet also reflects the increasing commercialization of art in his time. Art historians often rely on archival documents such as letters, exhibition catalogs, and sales records to better understand the meanings that artworks held in their own time.