Gezicht in Amsterdam 1886 - 1923

This is a drawing of a street scene in Amsterdam made by George Hendrik Breitner. It’s all quick, on-the-spot gestures, like the artist was trying to catch a fleeting impression. I can imagine Breitner standing there, charcoal in hand, trying to capture the essence of the city. What was he thinking as he made these marks? Did he pause to look, then quickly sketch, trying to keep up with the movement and life around him? Look at the way he suggests the figures with just a few lines. It’s more about feeling than detail, right? He probably didn’t want to get bogged down in realism; he wanted to convey the energy and atmosphere of the place. It reminds me of other artists who work in sketchbooks, constantly observing and translating their observations into these kinds of intimate, immediate notations. It’s like they’re having a conversation with the world, and we get to eavesdrop. It’s this constant exchange that keeps art alive.