Gezicht op het Rokin vanaf de brug bij de Doelenstraat c. 1909

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of the Rokin in Amsterdam with pencil on paper. Breitner was known for his interest in capturing everyday life in the Netherlands, and this sketch gives us a glimpse into his working process. We can see the Rokin, a canal in Amsterdam, as viewed from a bridge. The sketch is loose and unfinished, suggesting it was made quickly, perhaps en plein air. What was Breitner trying to capture? Was it the light, the atmosphere, or the hustle and bustle of the city? Breitner was associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, which focused on depicting the changing effects of light and atmosphere on urban landscapes. It seems he was more interested in capturing a feeling or impression than an accurate record. To understand Breitner’s intentions, art historians consult his other artworks and writings, as well as period sources that tell us about the changing urban landscape of Amsterdam. Through these resources, we can better understand Breitner’s work as a product of its time and place.