Brug en huizen aan een kade te Spaarndam 1916

Willem Cornelis Rip made this drawing with graphite on paper; it’s a quick sketch of Spaarndam with its bridges and buildings along the water. The immediacy here is really striking. You can almost feel Rip standing there, quickly capturing the scene before him. The lines are loose and energetic, not trying to be perfect but just getting the essence of the place down on paper. I love how the reflections in the water are suggested with these simple, vertical strokes that really bring a sense of movement and light. And see that little figure standing in the water on the right? It’s just a few lines, but it adds so much to the scene, making it feel alive and relatable. It reminds me a little of the early sketches of James Ensor; there’s a similar kind of raw, unpretentious quality to it. Ultimately, what I appreciate most about this drawing is its honesty. It's not trying to be anything it isn't. It's just a simple, heartfelt attempt to capture a moment in time, and in that, it succeeds beautifully.