Oosterse man met een wandelstok c. 1936

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this drawing, 'Oosterse man met een wandelstok', probably with graphite on paper, to capture a fleeting moment, a quick impression. I can see him, quickly trying to get the basic shapes down. Look at how light the lines are, they barely touch the surface, so thin and free. It’s as if he is drawing in the air, capturing the essence of the figure with minimal effort. I imagine him thinking about the relationship between line and form. There's a sense of immediacy and intimacy in the way he has observed the man. The drawing embodies the energy of observation, the simple act of watching someone. It reminds me of artists like David Hockney, constantly sketching in his notebooks, always looking, and the way that looking informs his paintings. Every artist is influenced by those who came before. We are all just trying to capture the world around us, and leave our mark.