Gezicht op een straat met een paardenkar 1884 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner captured this street scene with a horse-drawn cart using graphite on paper. The sketch is a study in the everyday, a quick impression rather than a polished work. The softness of graphite allows for a range of tones and textures, capturing the gritty atmosphere of the urban environment. You can almost feel the weight of the horse, the rough cobblestones under the cartwheels. The artist's hand is evident in the energetic strokes, the smudges and erasures that create a sense of immediacy. Breitner, known for documenting Amsterdam's working class, elevates the ordinary through his keen observation and skillful use of humble materials. This drawing tradition comes from the broader tradition of sketching and academic training, a time-honored practice of capturing fleeting moments. The simplicity of the materials belies the skill required to evoke such a vivid scene. It reminds us that art can be found in the everyday, and that even a quick sketch can offer profound insight into the world around us.