Gezicht op de Dam te Amsterdam met de Nieuwe Kerk c. 1895

George Hendrik Breitner created this sketch of the Dam Square in Amsterdam, currently held in the Rijksmuseum, using graphite on paper. The composition is strikingly divided: one page almost blank, the other a flurry of lines depicting architectural forms. Breitner's sketch employs a structuralist approach through its raw, unfinished aesthetic. The use of line isn't merely representational; it’s an exploration of form and structure. The sketch destabilizes our expectations of a finished artwork. The contrast between the empty page and the detailed sketch invites a semiotic reading. The lines suggest a system of signs that point to a larger cultural context. The sketch, then, isn't just a depiction of a place; it’s a commentary on perception and representation itself. The deliberate asymmetry and incompleteness challenge fixed meanings, inviting ongoing interpretation.