Gezicht op huizen, mogelijk in de Marnixstraat te Amsterdam 1907

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of houses, possibly on Marnixstraat in Amsterdam, using graphite, sometime between 1880 and 1923. Look at the pressure of the graphite on the page; it varies, right? On the right-hand side, Breitner's lines are dark and confident, really describing the shapes and forms of the buildings. But over on the left, those lines are light, almost hesitant, searching for the subject. That contrast creates a really dynamic feeling, like the drawing is still in the process of becoming. I really enjoy how the sketch captures the essence of a place without getting bogged down in details. It reminds me of some of Philip Guston’s later works, where he uses a similarly pared-down style to evoke a mood or feeling.