Gezicht op een kade of straat met paard-en-wagen 1886 - 1898

This is George Hendrik Breitner’s ‘View of a Quay or Street with Horse and Carriage’, a drawing now held in the Rijksmuseum. The initial visual impact of the drawing is its striking use of line and form. Breitner uses stark charcoal lines to convey a sense of bustling urban life. The composition is dominated by a series of angular shapes and lines, that suggest the presence of buildings and a horse-drawn carriage. The lines create a sense of depth and perspective, drawing us into the scene, yet the sketch remains abstract, challenging traditional representational art. Breitner seems less interested in capturing the exact likeness of the scene, and more focused on capturing the essence of the urban experience through his drawing. The starkness of the lines and the lack of color serve to emphasize the gritty reality of the scene. The artist engages with new ways of thinking about space and perception, inviting us to contemplate the relationship between representation and reality.