View of Krom Boomssloot near Koningsstraat in Amsterdam 1890 - 1901

George Hendrik Breitner captured this view of Krom Boomssloot near Koningsstraat in Amsterdam using a photographic process, resulting in a print of 271 by 354 millimeters. The image is dominated by a monochromatic palette, where subtle gradations of grey articulate the urban environment. The composition directs our gaze along the converging lines of the street, leading into a vanishing point obscured by a misty haze. Breitner’s choice to photograph Amsterdam's streets aligns with a broader artistic interest in depicting the realities of modern urban life. This approach can be seen as a semiotic intervention, challenging romanticized views of the city by focusing on the everyday textures and structures of the working-class neighborhoods. The softness of the photographic medium, combined with the stark linearity of the architecture, creates a visual tension, reflecting the shifting socio-economic landscapes of the era. The atmospheric perspective, achieved through tonal variation, is not merely a formal technique, but also serves to emphasize the transient and mutable nature of urban experience. Breitner’s photograph invites us to consider how such visual representations contribute to the construction and negotiation of urban identities.