Brug over een gracht te Amsterdam 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this sketch of a bridge over an Amsterdam canal using graphite. I love how the artist uses only a few strokes to suggest so much. Look closely, and you’ll see the textured surface of the paper showing through, giving the image a kind of breath. The lines feel tentative, exploratory, like the artist is thinking through the image as they draw it, deciding what is essential and what can be left out. It’s about capturing the essence of a place, not a photographic likeness. Notice the cluster of marks in the lower right corner, which seem to be studies of figures, rapidly described with a beautiful economy. This reminds me of the work of Manet, who also had a talent for capturing the fleeting moments of modern life. Art isn’t about answers; it's about the questions we ask and the conversations we have with each other across time.