Stadsgezicht met figuren Possibly 1883 - 1885

This sketch of a city scene with figures was made by George Hendrik Breitner with graphite on paper. Graphite, in its raw form, is unassuming - it's the stuff of everyday pencils. But here, Breitner coaxes remarkable expressiveness from it. See how the softness of the material allows him to create a hazy, almost dreamlike atmosphere? The smudges and blurred lines aren't mistakes, but deliberate choices that convey the grit and bustle of urban life. It gives us the impression of something ephemeral. The way Breitner uses graphite is also significant; this is quick, on-the-spot work. Not the traditional art of laborious studio practice, but a means of capturing fleeting moments. In doing so, Breitner elevates a humble material and a common process into a powerful artistic statement. He makes it plain that art can be found not just in rarefied subjects, but in the everyday world around us.