Aangemeerde zeilboot aan een kade 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this drawing of a moored sailboat at a quay with graphite on paper. The marks are tentative, like he's feeling his way around the subject, not quite sure where he's going. I love that in a drawing. It's all about the process here. You can see the artist thinking, changing his mind. The lines are scratchy and uneven. Look at the mast, there's a real hesitancy in those lines. But it's not a bad thing, it creates a sense of movement, of life. The textures give the drawing a real sense of depth and atmosphere, especially in the rigging. The lightness of touch reminds me a little of Whistler's drawings, though Vreedenburgh's got a rawer, more direct quality. Art's a conversation, right? We all borrow and steal, and make something new. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be finished or perfect to be interesting. Sometimes, the best art is the stuff that shows the artist's process.