Studie 1849 - 1917

This sketch was made by Matthijs Maris, a Dutch artist who lived from 1839 to 1917. Maris was part of a generation of artists who questioned the established academic traditions and sought new ways to express themselves. This sketch offers an interesting glimpse into Maris’s working methods. The loose, scribbled lines suggest that it may have been made quickly, perhaps as a way of capturing a fleeting impression or working out a compositional idea. It is interesting to consider the role of the sketch in the broader context of 19th-century art. At a time when art academies emphasized the importance of careful planning and precise execution, some artists embraced the sketch as a more spontaneous and personal form of expression. The historian's role is to explore the artist's intentions, the cultural context in which the work was made, and the various ways in which it has been interpreted over time.