Gezicht op de Krom Boomssloot in Amsterdam 1898 - 1902

Editor: Here we have George Hendrik Breitner’s “Gezicht op de Krom Boomssloot in Amsterdam,” made between 1898 and 1902. It’s a pencil and ink drawing, very skeletal, and obviously a sketch. I'm struck by the contrast between its loose, informal style and the presumably solid, established architecture it depicts. What can you tell me about it? Curator: It's fascinating to consider the material reality of this sketchbook drawing. Look at the labor involved - Breitner’s hand moving across the page. And think about the production of the sketchbook itself: the paper, the binding, the pencils, the ink. These are all commodities produced within a specific economic system. The sketch isn't just a representation of the Krom Boomssloot, but it's a physical object embedded within a web of social relations, isn’t it? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn’t really considered that aspect, but now I see it. All these mundane materials involved in making the drawing. Does the mass production of paper and pencils at the turn of the century have any relationship to the burgeoning style and freedom of the sketchwork? Curator: Precisely! Mass production makes these materials more accessible, thus enabling more widespread artistic experimentation. It democratizes the process to an extent. Artists are no longer solely reliant on rare and expensive materials. But also, think about who had access to these sketchbooks. Was it only the upper classes? Or did the industrial revolution bring these more in reach to more of the masses? Editor: So the medium itself reflects the changing socio-economic landscape of the time. Curator: Absolutely. By looking at the materials, the production processes, and the consumption of this sketch, we can gain a richer understanding of the social context in which it was created. It’s no longer just about art history. Editor: I’ve definitely got a new perspective on what to look for when I examine artwork now! Thank you!