Bebouwing, mogelijk in de Rustenburgerstraat te Amsterdam c. 1900 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this study of buildings, possibly in the Rustenburgerstraat in Amsterdam, with graphite on paper. Look at these lines go! They are tentative, searching, almost like he’s thinking aloud. I imagine him standing on the street corner, sketchbook in hand, quickly trying to capture the essence of the buildings before the light changes or a tram rattles by. The marks capture more than just the facades, you can almost feel the energy of the city. The angles are a bit wonky, some lines are darker than others, and the whole thing has a raw, unfinished quality. But that's what's so great about it. It feels immediate, honest, and full of life. He is part of a long tradition of artists using drawing to understand and engage with the world around them. And like many of us, he's just trying to make sense of what he sees, one line at a time.