Rietstengels 1890 - 1946

Here we have Cornelis Vreedenburgh's 'Rietstengels,' a drawing, maybe graphite on paper, and it's all about seeing how much you can do with the simplest of means. I love the casualness of the gesture, the confidence of that line. The way it tapers off, like the reeds just fade into the air. It's not overworked, not fussy. You can feel the artist finding the form with each stroke, letting the pencil glide and dance across the surface. I'm reminded of Twombly's scribbles, but with a botanical twist. Look closely, and you can almost feel the breeze rustling through those reeds, and the sun warming the paper. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be loud or complicated. Sometimes, it's the quiet moments, the simple observations, that speak the loudest.