Stadsgezicht met een kerktoren 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this cityscape with a church tower in graphite; the date is unknown, but it feels like a fleeting moment captured in time. The drawing’s process feels open, like a conversation between the artist and the subject, full of corrections and second thoughts. The texture here is all about the grain of the paper coming through the graphite, creating a soft, almost hazy atmosphere. The lines vary in weight, some barely there, others more assertive, building up the forms of the buildings and the church tower. Look at how the hatching marks on the side of the tower create a sense of depth and volume. This reminds me of Piranesi’s architectural fantasies, but with a gentle touch. Vreedenburgh is less concerned with precise representation and more with the overall impression of the scene. It’s like he’s inviting us to fill in the gaps, to co-create the image with him. You could say it's unfinished, but maybe it's just perfectly unresolved.