Schepen op de Oudezijds Kolk bij de Nicolaaskerk 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this pencil drawing of boats on the Oudezijds Kolk near the Nicolaaskerk at some point during his lifetime. It’s all about the process with a drawing like this: quick, responsive, and full of energy. I’m drawn to the density of marks around the boats themselves, a kind of scribbled shorthand. You can almost feel the artist trying to capture the essence of these vessels, their shapes, and their relationship to the water. The reflections feel solid, like grey slabs, and the details of the masts and rigging are just implied, little dashes and lines. It's almost like a memory. I'm reminded of drawings by Giorgio Morandi, or maybe even some of Philip Guston's later, more cartoonish works. It's like a visual conversation across time, each artist adding their own voice to the mix. And like any good conversation, it’s not about having all the answers, it’s about asking the right questions.