Brug over een gracht 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh captured this canal bridge using graphite on paper. Here, the artist’s hand is immediately apparent. You can see each line, each stroke, and the varying pressure of the graphite as it builds tone and depth. The texture of the paper itself becomes part of the image, providing a subtle graininess that softens the hard edges of the architectural forms. The speed and immediacy of the drawing suggests it may have been created on site, rather than in a studio. There’s a directness to the work; the artist seems less concerned with polished detail than with capturing the essential forms and atmosphere of the scene. It’s a humble medium, but one that allows for remarkable expressiveness. Ultimately, by focusing on the simple act of drawing, Vreedenburgh invites us to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the everyday environment, challenging our assumptions about what constitutes a valuable subject for art.