Gezicht op de Beulingstraat te Amsterdam c. 1903

This is George Hendrik Breitner’s sketch of the Beulingstraat in Amsterdam. Breitner, born in 1857, lived and worked in Amsterdam during a time of rapid social and economic change. He is known for his depictions of the city, capturing the everyday life of its inhabitants. This sketch, with its loose lines, offers us a glimpse into Breitner’s artistic process. It shows a street scene marked by architectural forms. The Beulingstraat, like many urban spaces, would have been a site of diverse social interactions, reflecting the city's class dynamics and cultural exchanges. Breitner often focused on working-class subjects. Though there are no figures in this sketch we can imagine them inhabiting this space. Breitner’s work invites us to consider the ways in which urban environments shape our experiences and identities. What stories do you think this street holds? How might its history reflect broader societal shifts and personal narratives?