Gezicht op de Kwakelbrug en de toren van de Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk te Edam 1938

Martin Monnickendam made this ink drawing of the Kwakelbrug in Edam. The artist's choice of ink as a medium immediately suggests a certain kind of artistic intention. Unlike painting, which involves layering and blending, ink drawing is immediate and direct. It's about capturing the essence of a scene with minimal means. The use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and volume, the drawing captures the architectural details of the bridge, the church tower, and surrounding buildings, as well as the more organic forms of the trees and foliage. The quick, gestural strokes of the pen suggest a sense of spontaneity and energy. The artist seems to have been interested in capturing the fleeting moment, rather than creating a highly finished or polished work. By focusing on the immediacy of the mark-making, we can appreciate the artist's skill in capturing the essence of a place with simple materials. It encourages us to consider the artist's hand and mind at work, translating the world into lines on paper.