Gezicht op een brug over een gracht 1887 - 1889

George Hendrik Breitner created this sketch, "View of a Bridge over a Canal," using graphite on paper. It's a simple combination, yet incredibly versatile. The dry, almost dusty quality of graphite allows for a range of marks, from the softest grays to dense blacks. Looking closely, you can see how Breitner used this to his advantage, building up the image through layers of hatching and smudging. The texture of the paper itself also plays a role, catching the graphite and adding a subtle graininess to the drawing. Graphite, though now ubiquitous in pencils, reflects the industrial age, and this work shows how industrial materials could also lend themselves to atmospheric depictions, and impressions of modernity. The artist's quick and gestural marks convey the energy of urban life, hinting at the speed and transience of the modern world. It’s a reminder that even the simplest materials, when used with skill and intention, can capture the essence of a time and place.