Gezicht in Amsterdam 1886 - 1923

This sketch by George Hendrik Breitner captures a glimpse of Amsterdam, probably rendered in charcoal or a similar dry medium. Breitner's mark-making feels urgent, like he’s trying to capture the essence of a fleeting moment. Look at the density of lines forming the buildings and structures. There’s a real push-pull between representation and abstraction here. The lines are raw and immediate, almost like a seismograph recording the city's pulse. You can almost feel the grit of the charcoal on the page and imagine the artist rapidly moving his hand to capture the scene before him. It reminds me of some of Philip Guston’s early, more figurative work, where the city is rendered in a similarly anxious way. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is just as much about the process as it is about the final image.