..drivers, docker and skippers.. ..at the canal the whole day they are loading peat and every horse stands still for half an hour [his time for sketching]. (translation from original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

Quote, c. 1910, in Jan Mankes - kunstbeschouwingen van Albert Plasschaert & Just Havelaar; publisher J.A.A.M. van Es, Wassenaar, 1927; as cited by Susan van den Berg, in 'Tableau Fine Arts Magazine', 29e Jaargang, nummer 1, Feb/March 2007, p. 76 | Jan is describing the activities at the canal the Schoterlandsche Compagnonsvaart (in De Knijpe); this was the daily view from the living-room of his parental home when Jan was 20 years.