Stadsgezicht met een molen 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner made this ink sketch, “Cityscape with a Mill,” sometime during his career. The most immediate element of the work is its structure of thin lines on a muted background, which conveys a sense of spontaneity and an immediacy in capturing an urban landscape. Breitner’s lines intersect and overlap, building a network of geometric shapes that suggest buildings, perhaps the sails of a mill, and other architectural details. The composition doesn't rely on traditional perspective. Instead, Breitner uses a flattened space, pushing the foreground and background closer together, emphasizing the two-dimensional nature of the drawing. This technique aligns with early modern art movements that sought to deconstruct traditional artistic conventions. The sketch offers a glimpse into Breitner’s process, revealing how he used line and form to dissect and represent the world around him. The drawing isn't a mere depiction but an investigation into the essential forms that constitute our visual experience.