Zeilboten op het water 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this sketch of sailboats on water with graphite on paper. It’s a quick, light study, and the softness of the graphite allows for an easy modulation of light and shadow. The artist used hatching to build up tone, giving shape to the sails, and loosely defining the shapes of the boats and reflections on the water. You can almost feel Vreedenburgh’s hand moving quickly across the page, capturing a fleeting moment. The visible paper provides a sense of immediacy. The modest materials and techniques speak to the tradition of the artist’s sketch, a mode of working through ideas. Graphite and paper are inexpensive and portable, reflecting a democratic approach to artmaking, accessible to many, not reliant on high-end materials. By engaging with the material qualities of graphite, Vreedenburgh transforms a simple sketch into a work of art.