Gezicht op het Rokin te Amsterdam c. 1902

Here is George Hendrik Breitner’s sketchy graphite drawing of the Rokin in Amsterdam. I can really feel him working through his drawing, trying to get a feel for the weight and form of the scene as it sprawls towards the horizon. I want to pick up his pencil and have another go! Maybe he started with the buildings along the canal, capturing their height and depth and how they crowd the skyline. Then he added all the details, like the windows and doors and architectural fancies. And I bet he drew those boats on the canal, one by one. I really feel the push and pull between precision and improvisation, control and chaos. I’m reminded of other sketchers, like Manet or Degas, whose quick impressions helped them find a new way of seeing. Like all artists, Breitner was in conversation with other artists through time, learning and building on their ideas. It’s amazing that a simple graphite drawing can open up such a creative chain reaction.