Figuren aan het werk, mogelijk stratenmakers 1906 - 1948

George Hendrik Breitner created this undated sketch, "Figuren aan het werk, mogelijk stratenmakers" - "Figures at work, possibly street workers" - now held at the Rijksmuseum. Breitner lived during a time of rapid urban expansion in Amsterdam, and was known for documenting the lives of the working class. This sketch gives us a glimpse into the world of these laborers, their figures bent and active in the midst of their work. Breitner’s loose lines and quick strokes capture the energy and movement of labor. This was a time when industrialization and urbanization were reshaping society, and with it, the lives of ordinary people. Breitner's choice of subject matter reflects a broader artistic interest in representing the realities of working-class existence. This piece invites us to consider the human stories behind the construction of the cities we inhabit, prompting reflection on the lives and labor that shape our environment. The anonymity of the figures, rendered without distinct facial features, evoke the collective nature of labor and its impact on individual identity.