Brug te Reeuwijk Possibly 1866 - 1929

Willem Cornelis Rip created this subtle pencil sketch, "Brug te Reeuwijk" on paper, its date unknown. The composition is divided across the notebook's spread, creating a diptych effect. On the right, we see a bridge delineated with swift, angular lines amidst softer, cloud-like forms. The bridge is not presented in full detail, but rather suggested through a network of intersecting lines that prioritize structure over precise representation. On the left, Rip sketches lines that may continue the landscape's forms. The sketch destabilizes traditional landscape art. There is no fixed point of view, perspective, or representation. Instead, Rip captures an initial impression, an ephemeral moment in time, leaving the sketch open to multiple readings. The work invites us to consider how sketching practices in the 19th century reflect shifts in perception and the nature of representation itself. Rip emphasizes the structural framework of the landscape.