Stillevens met dood gevogelte 1834 - 1906

This undated sketch by Maria Vos, titled 'Still Life with Dead Fowl,' resides in the Rijksmuseum, offering us a glimpse into the artistic practices of a 19th-century woman navigating the art world. Vos, born in 1824, lived in a time when women artists often faced marginalization. 'Still Life with Dead Fowl' provides insight into the gendered expectations and artistic constraints of the period. Still life, along with portraiture, were considered acceptable genres for women artists, unlike history painting, deemed more suitable for men. Vos seems to be making a statement about the boundaries placed upon women in the arts. In focusing on the muted tones of the dead fowl, she seems to be questioning the traditional representations and expectations of female artists during this period. This sketch, in its quiet depiction of lifeless birds, evokes a feeling of melancholy. It quietly challenges the viewer to reflect on the societal pigeonholing of female artists at the time.