Figuren op een treinperron 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this pencil drawing of figures on a train platform sometime during his career in the first half of the 20th century. The image depicts a common scene that reflects the increasing mobility of people in the Netherlands and Europe during this period. The railroad, an achievement of industrial modernity, is a key element of the composition. The artist is interested in how these new technologies affect social interactions. The sketch captures a moment of transit, and highlights the anonymity of modern urban life. Vreedenburgh’s sketch can be placed within a tradition of European modernism that seeks to depict the experience of modern life. Further research into the archives of Dutch social history and travel might reveal more about the cultural meanings of train travel during Vreedenburgh’s lifetime. Art is always contingent on these wider contexts.