Boot 1908

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this small etching called “Boot,” but when, I’m not sure. It’s all about mark-making, those tiny, scratchy lines that build up to create a whole world. You can feel the process, the artist’s hand moving across the plate, building up the darks and lights. Look closely, and you'll see how the texture is everything. The drypoint technique gives it a velvety feel, especially in the reflections on the water. That dark shadow under the boat – it's like a little secret, a place where the image dissolves into pure abstraction. The way the lines are laid down, it feels like you’re looking at something fleeting, a moment captured in time. Vreedenburgh reminds me of Whistler, with that same love for understated beauty. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to shout; sometimes, the quietest voices are the most profound.