Liggende figuur 1849 - 1917

Matthijs Maris made this sketch of a reclining figure, its date unknown, using graphite on paper. The sketch’s ethereal quality invites us to consider the artist’s relationship to the institutional conventions of his time. Maris, alongside his brothers, was a prominent figure in the Hague School, a group of Dutch artists active in the late 19th century. They reacted against the rigid academic style of the art establishment, advocating for a more intimate and subjective approach to painting. Maris’s sketch, with its loose lines and dreamlike atmosphere, embodies this artistic rebellion. It reflects a broader cultural shift toward valuing individual expression over technical precision. Art historians rely on archival materials, such as letters, exhibition catalogs, and critical reviews, to reconstruct the complex web of social relations that shaped artistic production. This sketch serves as a reminder that art is not created in a vacuum. Instead, it’s a product of the artist’s dialogue with their peers, their patrons, and the broader cultural landscape.