Gezicht op een rij gebouwen, mogelijk aan de Lauriergracht te Amsterdam c. 1915 - 1916

This sketch, possibly of the Lauriergracht in Amsterdam, was made by George Hendrik Breitner. He captures the essence of urban architecture with simple lines on paper. The buildings, though roughly sketched, evoke a sense of depth, their facades reminiscent of ancient Roman architecture, where the grid-like structure symbolized order and civilization. Think of the Roman insulae, apartment blocks that housed entire communities, their repetitive windows echoing a collective existence. This motif has resurfaced throughout history. In the Renaissance, it was revived in the orderly facades of palazzi, representing power and stability. Here, in Breitner's sketch, it’s pared down, but the subconscious connection remains. Perhaps it speaks to the underlying human desire for structure, a longing for order amidst the chaos of modern life. The urban landscape is transformed into a reflection of our inner selves, forever caught between progress and the echoes of the past.