Staande vrouw, het hoofd voorover gebogen 1849 - 1917

This is a drawing titled "Staaande Vrouw, het hoofd voorover gebogen" by Matthijs Maris. The work presents an evocative figure through a network of delicate pencil lines. These lines define the form of a standing woman, her head bowed in what seems to be a moment of introspection or sorrow. The structural composition uses a light and airy technique, where the figure emerges from the paper's surface, almost as if she is a fleeting apparition. Maris's drawing exemplifies an approach where the emphasis is less on capturing precise anatomical details and more on conveying an emotional state through the very act of drawing. The repetitive marks create a sense of movement and uncertainty, mirroring the complex and shifting nature of human emotion. The woman is not presented as a fixed or stable entity but rather as a figure in flux, her identity shaped by the delicate interplay of light and shadow. The overall effect is one of poignant fragility, a reminder that art can serve as a powerful medium for exploring the nuances of human experience.