Architectuurstudies, mogelijk van een gevel c. 1902 - 1914

George Hendrik Breitner made this architectural study, possibly of a facade, as a pencil drawing. Breitner was active in Amsterdam at a time when the Netherlands was undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization. His art reflects the changing social and physical landscapes of the time. As a contemporary of Vincent van Gogh, Breitner sought to capture the realities of modern life and the working class, often depicting street scenes, cityscapes, and portraits of everyday people. The Rijksmuseum's collection provides a great resource to study the context in which this drawing was made. Through historical archives, we can gain insights into the social conditions that shaped Breitner's artistic vision, understanding how the sketch reflects the artist's perspective on the architectural and social developments of his era.