Figuur voor gebouwen, mogelijk in Amsterdam 1886 - 1908

This sketch, ‘Figure for Buildings, possibly in Amsterdam’, was created by George Hendrik Breitner, a Dutch artist known for his depictions of city life. Breitner lived and worked in Amsterdam during a time of rapid urbanization and social change, and was interested in capturing the gritty realities of modern life. Instead of romanticizing the city, Breitner focused on the everyday experiences of ordinary people, often those on the margins of society. This work is more about infrastructure, but we can imagine it being populated with working class people going about their day. The sketch's rough lines and unfinished quality convey a sense of immediacy, as if Breitner quickly captured a fleeting moment. This approach challenged the conventions of traditional art, which often sought to create idealized and polished images. Breitner, in contrast, embraced the raw and unrefined aspects of urban life, revealing the beauty he found in the ordinary and the overlooked.