Ophaalbrug over een gracht c. 1935 - 1936

Cornelis Vreedenburgh sketched this canal bridge on paper with graphite. It’s all about seeing what's there, and maybe what isn’t. I love how immediate this drawing feels! The quick lines, the layering of graphite, it’s all about the process. I can almost see him standing there, squinting at the light, trying to catch the way the bridge sits in the space. The lines aren't precious or overly defined, but suggestive. Look how he captures the textures of the buildings and foliage, without getting bogged down in detail. It’s a drawing about a feeling, a moment, not just a place. That scribbled section, up to the left, it’s like he’s scratching at the surface, trying to find the right way to describe the scene. It makes me think of Giacometti's drawings, these searching lines trying to capture the essence of something, never quite settling, always in motion. Art is a conversation, and it keeps going on and on.