Figuren in een steeg 1881 - 1883

"Figuren in een steeg" (Figures in an Alley) is a charcoal drawing by Dutch artist George Hendrik Breitner, created between 1881 and 1883. This quick sketch, housed in the Rijksmuseum, captures the essence of urban life with its gestural lines and shadowy figures. The composition emphasizes the narrow space of an alley, suggesting a fleeting moment of anonymity and solitude within a bustling city. Breitner's rapid strokes and use of chiaroscuro evoke a sense of movement and atmosphere, characteristic of his Impressionist style.