Ornamentele schalen en een duif c. 1856 - 1870

This page of sketches was made by Maria Vos in the 19th century, using graphite on paper. While graphite and paper are traditional art materials, what’s interesting here is the way Vos has used them. This is not a finished work, but rather a glimpse into her creative process. The quickly rendered lines show us a study of ornamental objects and a bird, capturing their forms and textures with varying degrees of detail. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the page, as she builds up the image with layers of shading. Vos was clearly interested in the interplay between natural and artificial forms – the dove versus the elaborate curves of the bowls, the rough and ready marks of her pencil versus the refined objects she depicts. This reminds us that drawing itself is a form of making, a skilled practice that has its own history.