Gevel c. 1915 - 1916

This page of George Hendrik Breitner's sketchbook, undated, offers an intimate glimpse into the artist's world, amidst the rapid urbanization of Amsterdam. Breitner lived through the industrial revolution in the Netherlands which brought unprecedented social changes. The page is filled with quickly jotted notes, addresses, and sketches, giving us a sense of the artist's daily life and movements. The urban landscape, with its stark facades and bustling streets, became a central theme of Breitner's work. His art often captured the transient moments of city life. He was known for his unflinching portrayals of the working class and the marginalized. Breitner once said, "I see beauty in the everyday, in the raw and unadorned." This sentiment resonates deeply with the sketches in this book. These sketches serve as a visual diary, capturing the raw, unadorned beauty of everyday life. They invite us to contemplate the stories embedded in the urban landscape and the lives of those who inhabit it.