Gebouwen 1912

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of buildings with graphite on paper. It's a fleeting capture, a moment of looking turned into a jumble of lines. I'm drawn to the way Breitner uses line here, so direct and economical. The buildings are described with these quick, almost impatient marks, like he's trying to catch the essence of the scene before it disappears. Look at the various pressures with which he uses the graphite, he really captures light and shadow with tone alone! The texture of the paper comes through, too, giving the sketch a sense of immediacy, and this reminds me of artists like Cy Twombly, who used simple materials to create complex layers of meaning. Ultimately, this drawing feels like a reminder that art isn't about perfection, but about capturing the raw energy of a moment.