Façade van een gebouw 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this sketch of a building facade using graphite on paper. Graphite is one of the most basic, widespread drawing materials – pure carbon, mined from the earth. In this case, the artist has used it to create a loose and free impression of architectural form. The sketch doesn’t give us much detail, but it does reveal the artist's thinking, tracing the lines of the architecture and capturing its essence. It's a swift, economical way to capture the essence of a building, but also reminds us of all the work that went into the actual construction. This simple sketch stands in contrast to the labor and craftsmanship involved in building construction and urban development. By focusing on the materials and processes of both the sketch and the building, we can appreciate how Vreedenburgh's work transcends the traditional boundaries between art and craft.