Boom tussen de huizen 1890 - 1946

Editor: So, this pen drawing, "Trees Between Houses" by Cornelis Vreedenburgh, somewhere between 1890 and 1946… It feels so immediate, almost like a quick observation jotted down. What stands out to you in terms of its creation? Curator: I am immediately drawn to the artist's choice of pen and the inherent accessibility of the medium. Unlike oil paint, a pen and paper are readily available. Think about who typically uses this medium and the kinds of statements, be they preparatory or stand alone, this suggests. How does that framing affect your assessment of it? Editor: I suppose I hadn't thought about it in those terms. So, its creation suggests it may be more of a preliminary work. Is the idea here to show, almost literally, how art can grow out of simple means? Curator: Exactly. It compels us to think about the labor and accessibility involved in creating art, even beyond a painting or sketch on paper. What does it mean to value a fleeting moment, captured so simply and directly, in a rapidly industrializing urban setting? Is he commenting on access? Editor: I see what you mean! Perhaps the subject of the sketch, nature sort of battling with urban architecture, adds another layer related to materials, in this case, organic vs. inorganic. The very quick marks do seem at odds with something more studied. It all makes me consider art making from new angles. Curator: Indeed. We are often asked to think about aesthetics and forget to address our starting point as material beings, creating material objects in specific places and times. Editor: Right, and this has highlighted all the decisions Vreedenburgh made during his artistic labor. Thank you!