Gevel en een figuur 1881 - 1883

This is George Hendrik Breitner's sketch, "Facade and a Figure," a work which gives us insight into the artist's process. Breitner, working in the Netherlands during a time of rapid urbanization, was known for capturing the energy of city life. What we see here isn't the polished, finished product, but a raw, intimate glimpse into the artist's perspective. Breitner, deeply inspired by the working class, sought to portray the everyday lives of ordinary people. His commitment to realism set him apart from his contemporaries. You can almost feel him capturing a fleeting moment on paper. The sketch reflects Breitner's attempt to develop alternative narratives. There's an emotional aspect to seeing these initial lines, the very first marks he made to capture a scene. It invites us to consider the social dynamics of urban spaces, the people moving through them, and the stories embedded in the architecture itself. It serves as a reminder of the value in the incomplete.