Studie 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh created this study with pencil on paper, but we don't know exactly when. This drawing is a rapid sketch, likely from a sketchbook, offering a glimpse into the artist's process. Vreedenburgh was a Dutch artist, living through both World Wars. The inscription 'Heemstede' may indicate the location he was sketching, possibly in preparation for a larger work. Consider the social context of art education at the time. Sketchbooks like this were vital tools for artists, places to record observations and develop ideas. The Rijksmuseum, as an institution, plays a key role in preserving and presenting these materials. The act of sketching en plein air was common and often endorsed by art academies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By studying these sketches alongside his finished paintings, we can gain a fuller understanding of Vreedenburgh's artistic development and the culture that shaped his practice. Historians can use these sketches to trace Vreedenburgh's influences and the evolution of his style.