Figuren in oosters kostuum c. 1936

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this work titled, Figuren in oosters kostuum, in an unknown year, with graphite on paper. Just look at the confident lines dancing across the page! It’s like watching Vreedenburgh’s mind at work, trying to capture the essence of these figures and their costumes, maybe from life, maybe from imagination. I feel myself wondering: was he sketching quickly in a bustling market, or in his quiet studio? The lines are so alive, so full of energy; they convey a sense of movement and spontaneity. What I love about it is the roughness. You can almost feel the graphite on the paper, the artist’s hand moving swiftly, capturing fleeting impressions. It reminds me a little of Matisse and his quick, economical lines. It’s the kind of drawing that makes you want to grab a pencil and start sketching yourself. The art of drawing is an ongoing conversation—we’re all just trying to find new ways to see and express the world around us.