Twee mannen c. 1936

Cornelis Vreedenburgh drew these two men with ink on paper, we don't know when. The quickness of the line makes me think he was drawing in a cafe. You know, when you only have a few minutes and want to get the gist of something, fast? These men are only described. But I love the guy with the beard and the hat. The lines are so loose, scribbly even, especially where they describe his beard. You can almost feel the scratching of the nib on the paper. The confidence and the speed of the hand is something I admire. It's just a sketch but, in a way, it has everything you need. It reminds me of Matisse, but less filled in. It's an exercise in reduction. An embrace of openness. An invitation to let your imagination wander.