Twee stadsgezichten 1881 - 1883

George Hendrik Breitner made these two cityscapes in pencil on paper. Graphite’s powdery quality allowed for quick marks and erasures, ideal for capturing fleeting impressions. Notice how the material dictated Breitner’s technique. Instead of carefully rendering details, he focused on the essential forms of buildings and cranes. The sketchiness implies movement and change. This wasn’t about the solid architecture, but the vibrant, ever-shifting nature of city life. Broadly speaking, drawing has always been a democratic medium; relatively inexpensive and requiring only basic skills to get started. Breitner's choice of pencil on paper, and an informal drawing style, suggests a deliberate rejection of academic tradition, a focus on lived experience over idealized representation. His swift, sure strokes hint at the pace of modern life, the rise of industry, and the changing urban landscape. So, next time you see a simple sketch, remember that the choice of material and process speaks volumes. It's not just about what is depicted, but how it’s made.