Muntplein en de Amstel te Amsterdam, gezien vanuit de Bodega c. 1903

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of Muntplein and the Amstel in Amsterdam, seen from the Bodega. This drawing provides insight into the artistic process of Breitner, an artist associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement. It captures a fleeting moment of urban life, mirroring the social and economic transformations of Amsterdam during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Breitner often depicted the working class and everyday scenes, diverging from traditional art subjects and reflecting a growing interest in social realism. The choice of a common location like Muntplein as his subject suggests an intent to democratize art, shifting its focus from the elite to the everyday experiences of the Dutch populace. Studying Breitner's sketches alongside his finished works and archival records could reveal much about the evolving role of art in reflecting and shaping social perceptions.