Gezicht op een brug 1881 - 1883

This is a pencil drawing titled “View of a Bridge,” by George Hendrik Breitner. Though undated, the drawing likely comes from the late 19th or early 20th century, when Breitner was working in Amsterdam. Breitner’s art is significant because it captured the everyday life of the working class in a rapidly changing city. You can see, even in this sketch, the interest in urban development and infrastructure. Bridges like the one depicted here were crucial to Amsterdam’s growth and economy. Breitner's work often challenged the art establishment by focusing on ordinary subjects rather than idealized or historical scenes. His images reflect social realities and the changing urban landscape of the Netherlands at the time. To understand Breitner better, we can look to city archives, newspapers, and photographs from that time. These historical resources help us grasp the social and institutional context that shaped his art, reminding us that art always speaks from a specific time and place.