Gezicht op een straat, mogelijk in Amsterdam c. 1915 - 1916

George Hendrik Breitner made this quick sketch, possibly in Amsterdam. Look at how the purple lines define the architectural forms, the buildings, and the street receding into the distance. I can imagine Breitner standing on the street corner, sketchbook in hand, quickly capturing the essence of the scene before him. There’s a freedom in the rapid, almost scribbled lines, as if he’s trying to catch the fleeting moment. It's like he’s saying, "Here’s what I see, here’s how it feels to be here, right now." The sketch is so minimal, but it evokes a strong sense of place, the light, the air, and the quiet rhythm of the city. It reminds me of other artists who sought to capture the everyday, like Edgar Degas, with his sketches of dancers. There’s a shared interest in the immediacy of experience, a desire to record the world as it unfolds. It’s a reminder that even the simplest sketch can be a powerful expression of seeing and feeling.