Gezicht op Bonn en het Siebengebirge c. 1860 - 1865

Maria Vos made this sketch of Bonn and the Siebengebirge using graphite on paper. Vos was part of a circle of female artists, many unmarried, who attained professional status and exhibited regularly in the Netherlands during the 19th Century. Here, we see two separate landscape sketches of a cityscape and mountain range that showcase Vos’s mastery of perspective. The delicate marks create a contrast between the built environment and nature, reflecting the growing interest in landscape as a symbol of national identity and cultural heritage. The emerging art market of the Netherlands at this time allowed Vos to reach a wider audience and establish herself as a respected artist. As art historians, we can delve into exhibition records, letters, and biographies to better understand the social dynamics of the art world that shaped Vos's career. The sketch invites us to reflect on the conditions that allowed female artists to thrive and the institutions that supported them.