Spelende kinderen in de Nieuwe Teertuinen te Amsterdam c. 1900 - 1923

This energetic sketch of children playing in Amsterdam was made by George Hendrik Breitner, likely with charcoal or graphite on paper. Look at those bold, searching lines – you can almost feel Breitner trying to capture the fleeting energy of the kids as they run and play. I imagine him there, quickly sketching, trying to keep up with their movements, his hand dancing across the page. It’s like he's thinking through the image with each mark. The texture is minimal, just the grain of the paper and the varying pressure of the lines, which really emphasizes the raw, immediate quality of the sketch. Notice the way he uses hatching to suggest shadow and form; those quick, parallel lines create depth and volume with so little effort! It reminds me of some of Degas’ sketches of dancers—that same sense of capturing movement and gesture with incredible economy. It's all about the process, the act of seeing and responding. Artists are always building on each other's ideas, pushing the conversation forward! Painting is a place to ask questions.