Bouwmaterialen en kruiwagens op Prinseneiland te Amsterdam 1907

This sketchbook page of 'Bouwmaterialen en kruiwagens op Prinseneiland te Amsterdam' was made by George Hendrik Breitner, probably sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It's all about the process, isn't it? Look at the raw, scratchy lines – they're not trying to be precious. It's like Breitner is thinking aloud with his pencil, mapping out the forms and spaces. You can almost feel the energy of the Amsterdam docks, the grit and the hustle. The texture of the paper peeks through, making the whole thing feel immediate and unfiltered. That cluster of marks on the right, suggesting a wheelbarrow, is a perfect example. It's not about rendering every detail, but capturing the essence of the object, its weight, its function. It reminds me a bit of Daumier, who had a similarly deft touch when it came to capturing the everyday lives of working people. It shows that art is always an ongoing conversation, a way of seeing and interpreting the world that evolves over time.