Gezicht op de Sloterdijkbrug te Amsterdam 1907 - 1909

This sketch, "Gezicht op de Sloterdijkbrug te Amsterdam," was made by George Hendrik Breitner, we don't know exactly when, using graphite on paper. The quickly sketched lines show a kind of looking that’s all about getting the basic information down first. The lines are thin and tentative, and the drawing feels very open, airy, and unfinished, which is appealing. I think it reveals an artist working through how to see and understand the world. Look at how he captures the bridge; the lines feel confident and structural. Then compare that with the figure that is suggested to the left; it almost feels like an afterthought. I love that you can see the artist thinking and recalculating in real time. It reminds me of the work of Manet, who also sought to capture the fleeting moments of modern life. But where Manet uses paint, Breitner uses a pencil. Both invite us to see the world in a fresh, unvarnished way.