Figuur met een opgeheven arm 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this sketch, Figuur met een opgeheven arm, directly onto a page of his notebook. Note the various notations and calculations surrounding the drawing, which are as much a part of this work as the figure itself. The artist chose a humble graphite pencil as the medium, a tool accessible and democratic. The lines are quick, dashed off, the image caught on the fly. The figure's form is loosely defined, suggesting movement and perhaps urgency. The arm raised, a gesture caught between defiance and supplication. It's easy to overlook a simple sketch like this, but the very immediacy of the medium is key to its power. The notebook format also makes us consider the artist in the act of creation, constantly observing, thinking, and working. Vreedenburgh prompts us to recognize the value of the everyday, and the potential of modest materials to capture profound moments. It’s a compelling reminder that art-making is not just about grand gestures, but about the accumulation of small actions.