schets

Schets is a Dutch term referring to a quick, rough drawing or outline used to capture the essential features of a subject without a finished level of detail. In art, a schets is created to study composition, proportions, light, and mood, often with loose lines and little shading. It serves as a preparatory step toward a later, more refined artwork. In architecture and design, schetsen are early concept drawings or schematic plans used to explore ideas and communicate intent before committing to a definitive design. The related term schetsontwerp denotes the draft phase of a project.

In literature and journalism, a schets can denote a short descriptive piece or vignette that sketches a scene, character, or setting. In Dutch education, students use schetsen to brainstorm and plan assignments, presentations, or projects. Materials range from pencils and charcoal to ink and digital tools, and many artists maintain a schetsboek, or sketchbook, to collect quick studies and ideas.

The term emphasizes provisionality rather than finish. While a schets may resemble aspects of the final work, its purpose is to experiment, record impressions, or outline structure rather than to stand as a final product. It is commonly found across artistic disciplines, design disciplines, and literary writing, where it remains a versatile and widely used concept.