Gezicht op huizen in Haarlem c. 1902

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing of houses in Haarlem with graphite on paper. It feels like the quintessential artist’s sketchbook: a space for raw ideas, quick studies, and unfiltered observations. What strikes me is the directness of line. The marks aren’t precious; they're all about capturing the essence of the scene. You can almost feel Breitner’s hand moving rapidly across the page, trying to pin down the light, the shadows, the architecture. The lines intersect and overlap, creating a sense of depth and volume with an economy of means. Look closely at the way he renders the windows, just a few strokes give you all the information you need. For me, this piece resonates with the work of contemporary artists like Laura Owens, who also embrace a kind of playful spontaneity in their approach to line and form. Ultimately, art is about seeing and thinking, and Breitner offers us a fresh perspective on the everyday world around us.