Studie van een vissersscheepje before 1917

Matthijs Maris made this study of a fishing boat with pencil on paper, and it's a real lesson in how to get the most from the least. It's like Maris is thinking out loud, letting us into the studio, into the art-making process. The beauty of this drawing lies in its simplicity: the texture of the paper showing through the delicate lines, the ghost of erased marks, all revealing the artist’s hand. Look at the stern of the boat, how it fades into shadow with those smudged, layered marks. It’s so evocative, and yet so economical! You can almost feel the dampness in the air, the rough texture of the wood, the gentle rocking of the boat. This piece reminds me of drawings by Morandi, the way both artists use a limited palette and simple compositions to create a sense of quiet contemplation. It proves that art isn't about perfection, but about capturing a feeling, an idea, a moment in time.