Gezicht op de Nieuwe Teertuinen te Amsterdam, gezien vanaf Prinseneiland 1901 - 1914

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing of the Nieuwe Teertuinen in Amsterdam with charcoal on paper. It captures the essence of a bustling port area, reflecting the Netherlands' significant role in international trade during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Breitner, associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, often depicted the working class and urban landscapes. His choice of subject matter—the Nieuwe Teertuinen—highlights the economic activities shaping Amsterdam's social fabric. The quick, expressive strokes capture the immediacy of urban life, while the choice of charcoal mirrors the industrial atmosphere, a departure from romanticized depictions of the past. To fully understand Breitner’s work, one might delve into the archives of Amsterdam’s urban development, examining photographs and documents of the period. By exploring the social conditions that shape artistic production, we appreciate how Breitner’s art reflects and engages with the changing world around him.