Schets van een vrouw met vlinders 1849 - 1917

Matthijs Maris made this sketch of a woman with butterflies using graphite on paper. It's currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Maris was Dutch, active in the late 19th century, a time when artists across Europe were questioning the conservative artistic establishment and exploring more subjective, individualistic forms of expression. Here, the wispy lines and ethereal figures evoke a dreamlike state, a rejection of the industrial progress and social realism that dominated much of the art world at the time. The butterflies could be read as symbols of transformation or freedom. Are they suggesting that women – constrained by the rigid social norms of the era – might also break free from those expectations? To truly understand Maris' intent, we need to consider the broader artistic and intellectual currents of his time. By looking at his letters, his engagement with artistic institutions and the work of his peers, we can better understand the cultural and political forces at play in his art.