Figuren, mogelijk op straat c. 1909

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, Figuren, mogelijk op straat, probably on the street, with graphite on paper. You can see how he uses hatching and cross-hatching to build up tone and texture, giving the impression of figures in a blurry urban environment. I can imagine Breitner standing on a bustling street corner, quickly trying to capture the essence of the scene before him. Maybe he was thinking about how to convey the energy and movement of modern city life, its fleeting moments, and the anonymity of its inhabitants. You can almost feel the city's pulse through his mark-making. I love the way the marks are laid down in such a way to create an open, airy quality, inviting us to fill in the gaps and imagine the scene for ourselves. Breitner’s sketch feels spontaneous and uninhibited, like a direct translation of his perceptions onto paper. Artists are always in conversation with each other, exchanging ideas across time. They inspire our creativity, as this drawing inspires mine!