Zeilboot 1890 - 1946

Here we see Cornelis Vreedenburgh capturing a sailboat with what looks like pencil on paper. The sketch feels immediate and direct, as if he’s trying to get something down quickly before it disappears. There’s a real sense of looking and responding in the moment. The texture of the paper shows through, becoming part of the drawing itself. Notice how some of the lines are darker, more definite, while others are faint and almost hesitant. It's like the drawing is thinking aloud, trying to find the right shape or angle. The mast of the boat is almost scribbled, with a few quick strokes suggesting its height and the way it catches the light. It's this kind of casual but focused mark-making that reminds me of other artists obsessed with line like Henri Matisse. Of course, it’s not about being ‘finished’ or perfect. It’s more about the process of seeing and translating that vision into something tangible.