Boomstam en een huis naast een bos 1834 - 1906

Maria Vos sketched this drawing of a tree trunk and a house beside a forest with graphite on paper. Looking at the tree's texture, you can almost feel the rough bark under your fingertips, each line carefully placed to mimic the natural world. The subtle gradations achieved through graphite capture the light as it hits the rounded, organic forms of the trunk. The house and forest in the background, merely suggested by their barest outlines, point to a landscape altered by human presence. The directness of the graphite medium invites us to consider the labor involved in creating such a drawing, and the way in which the artist has chosen to represent nature. Ultimately, understanding the materials, the making, and the context enhances our appreciation of Vos' work.