Zeilschepen op open water 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this sketch of sailing ships on open water with pencil on paper. As a modern art historian, I often ask what public role an artist assumes when they produce and display an image like this, and how the cultural and social conditions of the time influenced them. Vreedenburgh was a Dutch artist working in the early 20th century. Holland had long been known for its shipping industry and its landscape painting tradition. The availability of public museums and art academies influenced artists’ decisions about style and subject matter. A quick sketch like this, for example, might have been used to prepare for a larger studio painting to be displayed in a gallery. When we try to understand this image, it helps to know something about its cultural context. Art historical resources such as exhibition reviews, biographies of the artist, and even economic data about the art market can all help to paint a richer picture.