Kop van een man 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this drawing of a man's head with a pencil, probably in a sketchbook. Imagine him quickly capturing what he sees. I'm always curious about why an artist chooses to draw or paint something. What caught Vreedenburgh's eye? Was it the strong curve of the man's nose, or the way the light fell on his cheek? There’s a concentration in the hatching that makes up the beard. I wonder if the man was even aware he was being sketched. It's interesting to think about how this small sketch might relate to Vreedenburgh's other work, his cityscapes and landscapes. Was he always this direct and economical in his mark-making? Or was this drawing a private experiment? Maybe Vreedenburgh was influenced by other artists of his time, who were also exploring the possibilities of line and form. Artists are always looking at each other’s work, riffing, and responding. Ultimately, this little drawing is a reminder that art is about seeing, thinking, and feeling.