Gezicht op de Prins Hendrikkade te Amsterdam 1896 - 1901

This pencil drawing, "Gezicht op de Prins Hendrikkade te Amsterdam," was created by George Hendrik Breitner. The sketch presents an evocative yet incomplete vista of Amsterdam’s waterfront. The architectural forms along the Prins Hendrikkade are outlined with sparse, angular strokes, contrasting with the fluidity of the masts and rigging in the foreground. The artist used the linear structure of the sketchbook page to construct his composition. The lines become an integral part of the drawing itself. Breitner's sketch embodies a sense of immediacy, where the visual language conveys a feeling, capturing the fleeting essence of a moment. This approach challenges traditional artistic conventions, prompting a re-evaluation of what constitutes a complete work of art. The drawing invites us to consider the relationship between the sketched line, the represented form, and the viewer's perception.