Zeilschepen 1900 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen made this drawing of sailing ships with graphite on paper, and it’s a great example of how a sketch can capture the essence of a thing. Look at how he uses these quick, almost scribbled lines to suggest the sails, the masts, the way the wind fills them up. You can almost feel the movement, right? The texture of the paper shows through, becoming part of the drawing itself. See that dark patch of shading near the bottom? It’s like he’s testing the weight of the pencil, figuring out how much pressure to use. I love that—the process becomes visible. Tholen wasn't afraid to leave things unfinished, and this reminds me of Manet's sketches, how they prioritize capturing the feeling of a moment over perfect representation. Art is about seeing, thinking, and feeling, and this little sketch does all three.