Studieblad, onder andere met boomtoppen naast het puntdak van een huis 1834 - 1906

Maria Vos created this pencil drawing, titled Studieblad, sometime in the 19th century. It’s a study, a quick sketch intended for the artist’s own use, a record of things seen, and a testing of her own skill. This drawing, now preserved in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, gives us a peek into the artistic training of women artists in the Netherlands. Art academies were often closed to women, and so many sought instruction through private lessons or from family members. Vos, for example, received lessons from her sister. The detailed attention to naturalistic details of the trees in the background shows the dedication to closely observing nature, a key part of academic training. But she did not include a traditional still life or portrait; instead, she has depicted a woman in the landscape. To fully understand the social role of art, we can consult letters, exhibition reviews, and biographies of the artist. This helps us understand how social context shapes artistic production.