Gezicht op een straat in Amsterdam 1897

George Hendrik Breitner made this pencil drawing titled 'View of a Street in Amsterdam’. Breitner lived and worked in Amsterdam at a time of great social change, as the city was experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization. Breitner belonged to a generation of artists interested in capturing everyday life, often focusing on the working class and urban environments. The sketch emphasizes the ordinary: a street with buildings, a figure, and some vague objects. It contrasts with the traditional subjects of art, like historical events or portraiture of the wealthy, and aligns with the rise of realism in late 19th-century art. This was a shift towards depicting the world as it was, without idealization. The sketch also acts as a visual record of Amsterdam during this period. To further understand Breitner's artistic choices, research into the social and economic conditions of Amsterdam, his ties to the Hague School, and his relationship with the art institutions of his time would be useful. These types of resources help us better interpret the meaning of art in its specific social and institutional context.