Notities 1890 - 1946

Here we have a page from a sketchbook by Cornelis Vreedenburgh. It's hard to say exactly when it was made, but it’s safe to assume it was made with pencil, and maybe ink, judging by the look of the page. There's something really charming about seeing the mundane stuff alongside the artistic process, like a window into the artist's mind. The notes and numbers scrawled across the page feel immediate, like a snapshot of daily life. I love how the materiality of the sketchbook itself becomes part of the artwork. You’ve got the stamps, the printed label of the sketchbook brand, and the handwritten address. The texture of the paper, the smudges, the unevenness of the writing – these all add up to a sense of intimacy. Look at the column of numbers near the top, the way the pencil lead varies in darkness. It reminds me a little of Cy Twombly, the way he made marks on a surface that felt both deliberate and accidental. Ultimately, this sketchbook page is a reminder that art isn’t just about finished masterpieces. It’s about the process, the experimentation, and the everyday moments that inspire creativity.