Gebouwen, mogelijk aan een straat 1893

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of buildings, possibly on a street, using graphite on paper, part of a sketchbook that is now held at the Rijksmuseum. Breitner was known for his images of working-class life in Amsterdam. These sketches offer a glimpse into his process of capturing the everyday urban environment. During his time, Amsterdam was undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization, reshaping its social and physical landscapes. Breitner's focus on the mundane, the ordinary, and the gritty aspects of city life challenges traditional romantic representations of urban spaces. His work often reflects a sense of alienation, a perspective influenced by his association with literary naturalism. You can almost feel the cold, damp air of a February day seeping into these drawings. There is a rawness, and a sense of immediacy, as if Breitner quickly jotted these down while navigating the busy streets. Breitner developed an alternative narrative, one that spoke to the changing realities of urban life and its impact on the human experience.