Zeilschip aan een kade 1890 - 1946

This delicate pencil drawing of a sailing ship at a quay was made by Cornelis Vreedenburgh, though we don’t know exactly when. I really sympathize with the artist here, trying to capture the scene in a way that feels both immediate and true. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the page, deciding what to include and what to leave out. The lines are so sparse, almost hesitant, but they build up a real sense of place. I imagine Vreedenburgh standing there, maybe with the wind whipping around him, quickly sketching to capture the moment. The texture of the paper is so important here. It gives the drawing a warmth and intimacy. The grey pencil marks create depth and shadow, giving the impression of the ship's scale and the weight of the masts. It’s a drawing that reminds us that art is always a conversation with the world, a way of seeing and feeling and trying to make sense of it all.