Stoomboot op het water 1890 - 1946

This is a page from a sketchbook by Cornelis Vreedenburgh. With some graphite, Vreedenburgh captured steam boats on water as fleeting impressions, really like little thoughts. See how the lines are so tentative, almost like the artist is feeling their way around the subject? There’s a real sense of process here; you can imagine the artist quickly sketching, trying to capture the essence of the scene before it disappears. It’s not about precision, it’s about feeling. I am drawn to the way the artist uses the graphite to create a sense of depth and movement. The lines are thin in some places, thicker in others, creating a kind of visual rhythm. It’s almost like a musical score, with each line representing a different note or chord. This reminds me a bit of Twombly’s scribbles but more representational. These sketches invite us to see the world through the artist’s eyes, to experience the simple beauty of everyday life.