Figuren op een steiger bij een roeiboot 1849 - 1895

Willem Koekkoek created this sketch, "Figures on a Scaffold by a Rowing Boat," using graphite on paper. The composition is immediately striking for its stark simplicity and use of line. The majority of the paper is left blank, focusing our attention on the central cluster of activity. It is a flurry of diagonal lines and hatching that coalesce to suggest form and volume, yet remain distinctly abstract. The density of the lines creates a sense of depth and shadow, while the lightness of the sketch evokes an airy, outdoor atmosphere. Koekkoek uses the bare minimum to convey a scene. The marks on the page do not aim to precisely represent what they depict, but rather to capture the feeling of a fleeting moment. In this way, the sketch is more than just a preparatory study; it is a study of perception itself, reflecting how our minds assemble images from minimal visual cues.