Spelende kinderen in een zandhoop bij het Prinseneiland in Amsterdam c. 1890 - 1910

George Hendrik Breitner made this photograph of children playing in a sandpit near Prinseneiland in Amsterdam. He captured the scene in his characteristic direct and unvarnished style, turning a candid moment into a lasting image. Breitner was interested in depicting everyday life in Amsterdam. During the late 19th century, the city was undergoing rapid industrialization and urban expansion. Working-class neighborhoods were often overcrowded and lacked green spaces, and sandpits were popular places for children to play. Breitner's photo offers a glimpse into the social conditions of the time, showing how children found joy and recreation in the midst of a rapidly changing urban landscape. It is also interesting to note the composition of the photo – the children are at play, seemingly oblivious to the photographer's presence. Careful study of such photographs, and the social conditions they depict, allows us to better understand the lives of ordinary people and the world they inhabited.