Autobus op een straat 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this drawing of a bus on a street with pen and ink. The lines are simple, almost casual, which gives the image a kind of immediacy. It feels like a snapshot of a moment. The texture in this piece comes from the hatching and cross-hatching Vreedenburgh uses to create shadows and volume, especially on the bus itself. Look at the tires; they’re not just circles but have depth because of the way he’s layered the lines. The sketchiness adds to the overall feeling that this is a fleeting observation. It makes you think about the artist quickly capturing what he sees. This piece reminds me of the work of Piet Mondrian, particularly his early cityscapes. Both artists are interested in the urban environment. You get the sense that art is always talking to itself, across generations. It’s never really finished.