Study of an old woman, Matthijs Maris, c. 1856 - c. 1857
paper, h 31.7cm × w 35.8cm × t 1.7cm × d 6.2cm More details
While studying at the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts, Maris had to practise depicting facial expressions. His model’s face shows the signs of age. She has deep furrows at the corners of her mouth and around her nostrils, sunken cheeks, and grey hair. The woman’s eyes are closed, as if she has fallen asleep, or perhaps she was blind.
