Figuren in oosters kostuum c. 1936

Editor: Here we have Cornelis Vreedenburgh's "Figuren in oosters kostuum," made around 1936. It’s an ink drawing on paper, currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. It feels almost like a glimpse into the artist’s mind, like catching him in a moment of exploration. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious figures? Curator: Beyond the figures, darling, I see whispers of worlds unseen! Think of it: Vreedenburgh, sketchbook in hand, transported by imagination or perhaps memory. These aren't finished portraits, are they? They're echoes of journeys, perhaps real, perhaps dreamt. What's most compelling to me is how little he gives us – just enough to ignite our own narratives. Don’t you feel like you could almost finish these drawings yourself? What do you imagine the story is behind these sketches? Editor: That's a lovely way to put it—"whispers of worlds unseen." I hadn’t thought about the idea of finishing the drawings myself; that’s a fun perspective. I guess, because they're "in oosters kostuum," maybe Vreedenburgh was travelling in the Middle East. The fact that these sketches aren’t finished suggests the journey may be ongoing… Curator: Precisely! Or perhaps it’s less about literal travel, more about the interior journeys we all take, sparked by a scent, a snippet of music, or simply, a desire to escape the mundane. What this makes me wonder is this; do these figures seem staged, or are they organically placed within the borders of the medium? Editor: Hmmm. Organically placed, I think, perhaps because it feels raw and full of movement. I find I'm also more aware of the negative space now, the stark whiteness of the paper almost feels like another character, as it is defining the depth and feel of it. Curator: See, darling? That's the magic! What seems unfinished is, in fact, utterly complete, because it invites *us* to finish it. A beautiful insight for a Sunday afternoon, don't you agree?