Matthijs Maris, born on August 17, 1839, in The Hague, Netherlands, was a Dutch painter who belonged to the Maris family of artists, one of the most significant artist families in 19th-century Holland. He was the brother of the well-known landscape painters Jacob and Willem Maris, forming a trio that played a pivotal role in the Dutch art scene of their time.
Matthijs started his artistic journey at the age of twelve, enrolling in the Hague Drawing Academy. His early works were influenced by the Hague School, an art movement known for its realistic landscapes and depiction of everyday life in the Dutch countryside. The Hague School artists were inspired by the Barbizon school in France, which emphasized painting en plein air (outdoors). Despite this influence, Matthijs gradually developed a more personal and mystical style, characterized by a soft focus and dreamlike quality that distinguished him from his contemporaries.
In 1869, Matthijs moved to Paris, where he came into contact with the burgeoning avant-garde scene, yet he remained somewhat isolated, focusing on his unique artistic vision. His work during this period became more ethereal, and he often depicted scenes with a fairy-tale or fantasy element, which some have classified as belonging to the Symbolist movement. Unlike his brothers, who remained more grounded in Dutch traditions, Matthijs' oeuvre is noted for its poetic and often melancholic atmosphere, featuring figures that seem lost in thought or absorbed in a mystical haze.
Maris' work received critical acclaim in his lifetime, and he was awarded a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1878. His later years were spent in London, where he continued to paint but also experienced periods of seclusion and introspection, further deepening the enigmatic and often somber tone of his art. He remained a bachelor throughout his life, and his work was supported by the art dealer Daniel Cottier, who helped to sell his paintings to British collectors.
Matthijs Maris passed away on August 22, 1917, in London. His legacy is that of a unique and visionary artist who, while starting in the realist traditions of the Hague School, charted his own course and created works that still captivate viewers with their haunting beauty and enigmatic qualities. Today, his works can be found in major museums in the Netherlands, such as the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, as well as in various international collections.
