Twee gezichten in Amsterdam c. 1903

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing, *Twee gezichten in Amsterdam*, in Amsterdam with graphite on paper. Breitner lets the lines roam freely, almost as if he’s thinking out loud with his pencil. It’s as if he’s saying, “Here’s what I see, but also, here’s how I’m seeing it.” I love the simplicity of the materials, just graphite on paper, and how he coaxes so much out of them. The pressure on the pencil varies, creating lines that are sometimes bold and definite, at other times light and tentative. Look at how he captures the folds of the clothing with just a few strokes. It’s like he’s not just drawing what’s in front of him, but also the feeling of being there, in that moment. This reminds me a little of Adolph Menzel's drawings; both have that raw, immediate quality. And isn’t that what art’s all about? Capturing a moment, a feeling, an idea, and sharing it with others, knowing that they might see something completely different in it?