Gezicht op sloopwerkzaamheden op een plein in Amsterdam c. 1902 - 1914

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing of demolition work in Amsterdam with what looks like a stick of charcoal. Look at how he's built up the image with these quick, scratchy lines. It’s like he's not trying to show us the thing itself, but more the feeling of the thing as it crumbles and changes. You can almost feel the dust and hear the rumble of the city through these marks. It's all about the process, the act of seeing and responding. The texture of the charcoal on paper gives it this raw, immediate vibe. The dark lines create depth and shadow, but everything is kind of hazy and uncertain. Breitner reminds me of other artists, like Käthe Kollwitz, who used drawing to capture the gritty realities of urban life. Both artists see the beauty, or at least the intensity, in the everyday struggle. They show us that art isn't just about pretty pictures; it's about engaging with the world around us.