Kraan voor laden en lossen aan een waterkant 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh created this sketch of a crane at a waterside. It’s rendered with soft pencil strokes that capture a hazy, overcast day. Looking at the image, I can imagine Vreedenburgh standing there, sketchbook in hand, quickly trying to capture the essence of the scene. Maybe the light was shifting, or he wanted to seize a fleeting moment of inspiration. The simplicity of the line work gives the sketch an airy feel. The diagonal lines suggesting the ground and the rhythmic curves of the water are full of energy. The crane stands tall against the sky, its hook dangling like a question mark. I love the smudges and erasures, evidence of the artist’s hand at work. It makes me think about the tradition of plein air painting and drawing. Artists head out into the world to observe and record what they see. Each mark reveals a decision, a thought, a response to the scene unfolding before them.