Terrassen op het San Marco Plein te Venetië c. 1935 - 1936

Here we see "Terrassen op het San Marco Plein te Venetië," a sketch created by Cornelis Vreedenburgh. Graphite on paper captures a lively scene with a striking interplay between architectural grandeur and human activity. The sketch presents a study in contrasts: the static, monumental forms of Venetian buildings set against the dynamic, gestural renderings of people. The composition is structured around a horizon line, but the perspective is loose, almost dreamlike, evoking a sense of Venice as a floating city. The buildings are rendered with a degree of precision, yet the human figures are abstracted into shapes that blend with the surroundings. This technique reflects the modernist interest in dissolving traditional hierarchies of representation, treating figures as formal elements rather than distinct subjects. Vreedenburgh masterfully manipulates light and shadow using simple hatching to give depth to the sketch. The choice of medium allows for a directness of expression, capturing the essence of the scene with minimal means. It's a dialogue between form and function, inviting contemplation on how we perceive space and interact within it.