Zeilboot op het water 1914 - 1916

Willem Cornelis Rip made this sketch of a sailboat on water with graphite, and it’s like looking at a thought in progress. The marks are soft and smudgy, creating a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere, very process-oriented, and immediate. You can almost feel the grit of the graphite on the paper. See how the sky is rendered with these dense, scribbled lines, creating a feeling of weight and impending weather. Then, your eye drifts down to the water, a series of horizontal strokes suggesting movement and reflection. I’m drawn to that single, dark line cutting across the bottom right - is it a shadow, a ripple, or just a stray mark? It reminds me of Cy Twombly’s loose, gestural style, where meaning is found in the act of making, not necessarily in the representation. Ultimately, Rip’s sketch isn’t about perfect depiction; it’s about capturing a fleeting moment, an impression, and leaving space for interpretation. Just like art should be.