Wandelaars op een steil stenen pad bij een poort c. 1871 - 1878

Maria Vos sketched "Wandelaars op een steil stenen pad bij een poort" with pen in hand, tracing the shadows and light playing on the stone path and gate. The gate, a threshold, is a symbol laden with meaning, historically representing transition, access, and sometimes, forbidden entry. You see this same symbol in ancient Egyptian art as well, where gates mark the passage to the afterlife, guarded by deities. In classical mythology, gates appear as portals to other worlds. The gate, as a recurring motif in art and dreams, speaks to our collective subconscious. It represents the anticipation of the unknown, the allure of what lies beyond, but also the anxiety of crossing a boundary. Vos subtly invites us to consider what that gate might mean for these wanderers. The emotional draw comes from the anticipation of the unknown, engaging us with the eternal human experience of exploration and self-discovery.