Vrouw met een parasol en twee kinderen bij een baby in een kinderwagen 1834 - 1906

Maria Vos made this sketch, "Woman with a Parasol and Two Children with a Baby in a Pram," using graphite, likely during the late 19th century. Vos, working in the Netherlands, navigated the male-dominated art world by focusing on still lifes and genre scenes that reflected her surroundings and experiences. This intimate sketch captures a moment of domestic life. The woman, perhaps a nanny or mother, holding a parasol, becomes a focal point. Note the way the children are arranged, each seeming to represent different stages of childhood, hinting at the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life. The drawing resonates with the broader societal expectations placed on women during this period. While Vos achieved professional success, this sketch gently alludes to the domestic sphere often considered a woman's primary domain. Her choice to depict this scene, rather than a grand historical event, speaks to a more personal, everyday narrative. It offers a glimpse into the quiet moments that define human experience, rendered with a delicate and empathetic hand.