Ronde Lutherse Kerk aan het Singel te Amsterdam 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this drawing of the Ronde Lutherse Kerk in Amsterdam using what looks like a graphite pencil on paper. Just look at the restless energy of those lines, quickly capturing the dome of the church, the canal side trees, even the reflections in the water. You can almost feel him standing there, rapidly sketching, trying to capture the essence of the scene before the light changes or the moment passes. The density of the mark-making varies, creating a sense of depth and volume without a reliance on conventional shading techniques. I imagine Vreedenburgh capturing not just what he saw, but also what he felt, the sounds of the city, the smells, the overall atmosphere. Think about other plein air painters like Johan Barthold Jongkind, and the whole history of working outside, on the spot. They’re all in conversation with each other, separated by time, but connected through a shared desire to understand and express the world around them. Vreedenburgh’s sketch isn’t just a depiction of a place; it’s a record of an experience, a moment frozen in time.