Binnenplaats van een huis c. 1856 - 1870

This is a pencil drawing of a house courtyard, made by Maria Vos sometime in the 19th century, when women artists often found their creative expression circumscribed by societal expectations. Vos, like many of her female contemporaries, navigated a world where artistic pursuits were often seen as secondary to domestic duties, she turned to subjects that were deemed appropriate for women, such as domestic scenes or still lifes. This work offers an intimate glimpse into a private, perhaps feminine space. The courtyard, with its suggestion of enclosure and retreat, becomes a stage for the quiet dramas of daily life. The sketch invites us to consider the gendered dimensions of artistic practice in the 19th century. While it reflects the limitations placed on women artists, it also underscores their resilience and creativity within those constraints. Consider how Vos used her art to explore themes of domesticity, privacy, and the interior lives of women in a rapidly changing world.