Gezicht op het Damrak met de toren van de Oude Kerk c. 1903

This sketch of the Damrak with the tower of the Oude Kerk was made by George Hendrik Breitner with graphite. The artist’s hand seems to be moving fast here, mapping the scene while catching the energy of the moment. The skeletal lines are laid down with such speed, it feels like I’m watching Breitner’s thoughts unfold on paper. I see the ghost of a building and the barest suggestion of water. The artist’s marks feel restless, as if he’s trying to pin down something fleeting. It’s interesting to see how he’s cropped the scene, focusing on the verticals and horizontals, while everything else dissolves into a beautiful haze of lines. I can imagine Breitner, out in the city, inspired by the work of other artists. He embraces the ambiguity and uncertainty, inviting us to bring our own associations and experiences to the scene.