Figuren in de Baanbrugsteeg in Amsterdam 1917

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of figures in the Baanbrugsteeg in Amsterdam with pencil on paper, just kinda feeling his way through the scene. You can tell he's working things out as he goes. The texture of the paper shows through, giving everything this kind of raw, immediate feel. Look at those lines – scratchy and uneven, like he’s trying to capture the energy of the street rather than a perfect picture. There’s a figure in the foreground who is barely there, just a few lines to suggest a person walking away. It’s so minimal, but it says so much. Breitner was known for his street scenes, capturing everyday life in Amsterdam. This drawing reminds me a bit of some of the sketches by Daumier, who also had a knack for capturing the essence of a place with just a few strokes. Art is about this kind of conversation, picking up on what others have done and pushing it further. It’s never really finished, is it?