Stadsgezicht en figuurstudies 1881 - 1883

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, "Stadsgezicht en figuurstudies", sometime between 1880 and 1923. Breitner, a Dutchman, is known for his depictions of Amsterdam and for capturing everyday life. In this sketch, Breitner gives us both the city and its inhabitants. The rough, unfinished quality feels intimate, like a stolen glance into his private sketchbook. On one side, we see a hazy cityscape. On the other, figures of women rendered with quick, confident strokes, their identities both present and obscured. Breitner, despite associating with socialist circles, had a complex relationship with class. He came from a privileged background and often depicted working-class subjects, but there has been discussion among art historians on whether he truly understood the life of the working class, or simply aestheticized it. His work invites us to think about the intersections of class, representation, and the gaze. These studies reveal the artist's process and prompt us to consider the narratives embedded in the quick, fleeting moments of urban life.