Stadsgezicht met een toren, mogelijk Poeldijk 1887 - 1889

George Hendrik Breitner created this sketch, 'Cityscape with a Tower, possibly Poeldijk,' using graphite on paper. The sketch's composition is fragmented, its lines crisscrossing to form a semi-legible cityscape. The linear quality of the drawing is immediately striking. Breitner uses a network of lines to represent the urban landscape. This choice emphasizes the underlying structure of the scene. The sketch is more than a simple representation; it is an exploration of form and space. Breitner seems to be deconstructing the traditional notion of a cityscape into its most basic elements. The seemingly random notations scattered across the paper add another layer of complexity. They disrupt the visual field, challenging the viewer to reconcile the textual and pictorial elements. This interplay between text and image invites a semiotic reading, suggesting that meaning is not fixed but constructed through the interaction of different sign systems.