Gezicht in Amsterdam met de toren van de Noorderkerk 1886 - 1908

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of Amsterdam's Noorderkerk tower using graphite on paper. The artist engaged with readily available materials, reflecting a departure from traditional, labor-intensive methods like oil painting. The sketch's material qualities are key: the graphite provides a direct, immediate way of capturing the scene. The soft graphite allows for quick, gestural marks, imbuing the scene with a sense of immediacy. This sketchy quality doesn't come from nowhere; it speaks to the increasing pace of modern urban life, where the artist became like a reporter, dashing off impressions of the city. This approach democratized art-making, making it accessible to a broader audience and reflecting the changing social and economic landscape of the time. It challenged traditional notions of artistic skill, and the amount of work involved in the production process. Ultimately, the choice of material and method informs our understanding of the artwork, bridging the gap between fine art and everyday experience.