Studie 1849 - 1917

Matthijs Maris made this sketch, title Studie, during the late 19th or early 20th century. Maris lived through profound shifts in European society. Coming of age during a time of growing industrialization and urbanization, his art often reflects a retreat from these modern realities. Look closely, and you will see the delicate, almost ethereal lines. Maris captures a fleeting moment of contemplation. The subject in this piece is unclear, their identity almost obscured. This ambiguity invites us to consider the emotional and psychological states of those living in a rapidly changing world. Maris seems to be asking, "How do we hold onto a sense of self when so much is in flux?" Maris’s art offers us space to consider our own identities and emotional responses to a world in constant motion.