Schreierstoren, gezien van de Gelderskade 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this pencil sketch of the Schreierstoren, seen from the Gelderskade. There’s something so immediate and fresh about a pencil drawing, isn’t there? You can see the artist thinking, almost breathlessly, on the page. The marks are tentative, exploratory. Look at the way he's built up the form of the tower with these quick, short strokes. It's all about capturing a sense of place, a feeling. I love the way the pencil moves across the paper. It’s so direct, so intimate. You can almost feel the artist's hand at work. Notice how Vreedenburgh uses the side of the pencil to create broad areas of tone, and then switches to the point for finer details. It's a beautiful dance between control and spontaneity. The way the lines vary in weight and direction gives the drawing a real sense of energy and movement. It reminds me of the architectural drawings of Saul Steinberg, all playful lines and unexpected angles. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, a way of seeing and experiencing the world that is constantly evolving.