Straatgezicht te Amsterdam 1890 - 1946

Curator: Here we have "Straatgezicht te Amsterdam," or "Street View in Amsterdam," a drawing created sometime between 1890 and 1946 by Cornelis Vreedenburgh, and currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. It appears to be rendered in graphite pencil. Editor: It feels like a thought caught on paper, doesn't it? The jumble of lines, the angles... I almost feel the artist's restless energy in it. Not sure about Amsterdam but it could be anywhere that had canal houses and that lovely northern light! Curator: Absolutely. These types of sketches, even though this could be seen as a quick, initial impression of Amsterdam, they're often quite intentional. Vreedenburgh lived through periods of great urban change, especially after the Industrial Revolution transformed cityscapes across Europe. I suspect this piece is indicative of similar street views, of the time he lived through. Editor: Interesting... but what speaks to me is that it has the feeling of something immediate...like seeing the light change and needing to catch the exact slant of it across the buildings. What do you think he wanted people to feel by looking at this image? It has a really personal, searching quality. It's the intimacy of a visual note. Curator: I would venture to say, Vreedenburgh, like many artists, engaged in what we can refer to as "urban realism." Artists sought to depict everyday life, especially street life, in growing urban centres, with unprecedented accuracy. Here, in this work we have on display here at the museum, it is a look at ordinary citizens just living their lives. Editor: True... I can imagine it being a beautiful day in the spring... kids walking on their way home, perhaps stopping at their local bakery or cafe. It has a feeling that way! While it may not look very romantic, what could the historical impacts be of such artworks? Curator: Well, during periods of conflict, images such as this can either be weaponized as tools of propaganda, and sometimes, conversely, suppressed when perceived as destabilizing by those in positions of power. Therefore its cultural influence cannot be underestimated. Editor: Hmmm! Very well put! Curator: Indeed. It seems like even initial sketches can offer insights into an artist's intentions and social context of their environment, but in many diverse and complex ways. Editor: Agreed! It's lovely how a simple street scene can spark such expansive reflections!