Studies 1890 - 1946

This is a study by Cornelis Vreedenburgh, created at an unknown date with an unknown medium. Vreedenburgh lived through both World Wars, and came of age in the Netherlands during a period of relative peace. The drawing contains a sketch of an area labeled "ELIZABETH," and a rough series of marks that create a cityscape. The emotional impact of the artwork rests in its bare elements, which capture the essence of a specific time and place through only minimal amounts of information. It is also possible to see it as a metaphor for memory, which often presents us with a sense of a place or time without providing all the details. The lack of detail encourages us to reflect on the fragmented nature of our perceptions and the way we piece together experiences. The raw, unfinished quality of the sketch invites us to contemplate our own incomplete understanding of the world around us.