Brug over een kanaal 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this study of a canal bridge with pencil on paper; a simple sketch, it’s art reduced to the barest of means. What I find compelling here is how Vreedenburgh uses line, or the absence of it, to define form and space. Look at how he suggests the texture of the brickwork with just a few, quickly-drawn strokes. The whole thing feels so immediate, like a fleeting impression captured in a hurry. My eye keeps returning to the arch of the bridge itself, the way the lines curve and intersect, creating a sense of depth and solidity. It’s a masterclass in economy, this work. It reminds me of the drawings of Giorgio Morandi, who also found profound beauty in the everyday. Both seem to say: art isn't about grand gestures, but quiet observations.