Ophaalbrug te Reeuwijk Possibly 1866 - 1929

This is a quick pencil sketch by Willem Cornelis Rip, likely done en plein air. The softness of the graphite lends itself well to capturing the watery landscape. You can see the artist using quick, light strokes to suggest the movement of water and the texture of foliage. The Ophaalbrug, or drawbridge, is rendered with more deliberate lines, suggesting the weight and solidity of the wooden structure, and the way it dominates the flat landscape around Reeuwijk. Rip's choice of medium speaks to a desire for immediacy, for capturing a fleeting moment in time. Sketching was an integral part of the artistic process in the 19th century, a way of observing and understanding the world. In our time, it’s easy to overlook the labor involved in such a seemingly simple drawing. Each line is a conscious decision, a translation of three-dimensional reality onto a two-dimensional surface. Thinking about this process reminds us of the artist's hand, and their intimate connection to the landscape that they depict.