Artwork
Reverie
Reverie is an oil painting by the Symbolist artist Matthijs Maris. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the quiet intimacy of the scene, with the woman’s relaxed posture and the cat’s presence underscoring a domestic atmosphere.
Reverie portrays a solitary woman seated in a modest interior alongside a domestic cat. The composition emphasizes the quiet intimacy of the scene, with the woman’s relaxed posture and the cat’s presence underscoring a domestic atmosphere. As documented in the work’s catalog entry, the painting is an oil on canvas created in 1875 and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. The limited iconography, woman, cat, interior, invites contemplation of everyday stillness, allowing viewers to interpret the moment as a meditation on domestic tranquility.
Technique & Style
Reverie is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for late nineteenth-century easel painting. The relatively modest dimensions, approximately 30.5 by 23.5 centimeters, indicate an intimate scale suited to close, contemplative viewing. The composition depicts a woman with a cat in an interior setting, a subject handled with the quiet, introspective mood characteristic of Matthijs Maris's work from this period.
The work is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, where its condition is maintained according to the institution's conservation standards, though no specific conservation history is documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The painting Reverie was created in 1875 by the Dutch artist Matthijs Maris. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 30.5 by 23.5 centimeters. While specific details regarding its original commission or early ownership history are not provided in the available records, the artwork is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The piece depicts a woman accompanied by a cat within an interior setting, consistent with Maris's output during the mid-1870s.
Reverie, an 1875 oil painting by Matthijs Maris, is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it forms part of the institution's collection. The work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 30.5 by 23.5 centimeters. According to the available records, the painting depicts a woman with a cat in an interior setting.
No specific accession number or inventory identifier is documented in the consulted sources, and no exhibition history is recorded beyond its presence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's holdings.
Overview
Matthijs Maris, a Dutch painter and printmaker, completed Reverie in 1875 using oil paint. This work is characteristic of the Symbolist movement, evoking a dark, dreamlike atmosphere through its depiction of a forest. The painting is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering insight into Maris's distinctive artistic vision.
Context
Matthijs Maris initially received his training at the Hague Academy of Art and was associated with the Hague School, known for its realistic depictions of Dutch landscapes. However, he progressively cultivated a personal style that diverged from this initial influence, incorporating elements that aligned with the emerging Symbolist movement. This shift allowed him to explore subjective experiences and inner worlds, moving beyond direct observation to create evocative and often melancholic imagery.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Matthias Maris (17 August 1839 – 22 August 1917) was a Dutch painter, etcher and lithographer.
