Twee schetsen van een meisje met vlinders 1849 - 1917

This graphite drawing, titled "Twee schetsen van een meisje met vlinders" (Two sketches of a girl with butterflies), is a work by the Dutch artist Matthijs Maris. Created between 1849 and 1917, the piece showcases Maris's characteristically expressive and evocative style. The sketch, housed in the Rijksmuseum, portrays a young girl in two poses, seemingly lost in thought or contemplation. The figure is rendered with a loose and suggestive hand, emphasizing the emotional state of the subject rather than anatomical precision. This work exemplifies Maris's approach to art, one that explores the nuances of human emotion and the fleeting nature of life through evocative and often melancholic imagery.