Oude schuur in landschap 1890 - 1937

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this etching, *Oude schuur in landschap*, which translates as *Old shed in landscape,* on paper at some point in his career. It’s a humble subject rendered with such care, and the landscape has been built up with the finest of lines. Look at how much darkness he manages to pull from the tree on the left, using very thin and delicate lines to render the leaves. The touch feels so light, but it gives a sense of density and mass, grounding the left side of the image. On the roof of the shed the hatching feels scratchy, more frantic, and I think that’s a beautiful way of showing texture through mark making. I’m reminded of the etchings of Rembrandt, especially in the way the artist uses shadow. Although, if you compare this to Vreedenburgh’s paintings, there’s a lightness here that’s all his own. Ultimately, art is about conversation and seeing what you can make of it.