Nieuwe Kerk te Amsterdam, gezien vanaf de Dam c. 1902 - 1914

This is a sketch of the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam by George Hendrik Breitner. It's made with a soft pencil, maybe even graphite. Look at the lines, how they’re searching, going over the same ground again and again. It feels like Breitner is trying to capture not just the shape of the church, but also its presence. I bet he was standing right there, feeling the cold, the wind, maybe hearing the sounds of the city all around him. The church isn't just a building, it's part of the place. You can see how Breitner's hand moved quickly, trying to pin down what he saw, before it changed, before the light shifted. It makes you wonder if he intended it to be just a quick impression, or something more. Like so many artists, he's having a conversation with the world, and with himself. And now we get to eavesdrop.