Langebrug en de Langebrugsteeg te Amsterdam, gezien vanaf het Rokin 1886 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner created this drawing of Langebrug and de Langebrugsteeg in Amsterdam with graphite. Look at these lines. Aren't they so free, fast, and confident? I bet Breitner just stood there, maybe he had a coffee, maybe it was raining? I feel like he was chasing something. There is a whole atmosphere here with just a few lines. It’s almost not there! The artist is just saying: 'Hey, have a look at this.' A fleeting impression of a place. I feel like that bridge, the one in the foreground, is holding everything together, framing the scene. When you look at the drawing, you can almost hear the sounds of the city. You can imagine how the wind feels against your face. It makes me think about other artists like James McNeill Whistler, who were also interested in capturing the ephemeral beauty of modern life. But Breitner does it with such a humble touch, doesn't he?