Stadsgezicht met water 1880 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing, *Stadsgezicht met water*, with pencil, probably en plein air, because it feels immediate, like a fresh impression—a fleeting moment captured. The drawing has this beautiful muted grey palette, constructed from what looks like soft, smudgy marks. I can imagine Breitner standing there, squinting in the sunlight, trying to figure out how to make the buildings and water cohere into something meaningful. Look at the way he renders the reflections in the water – they’re not precise, but they convey the essence of light playing on the surface. It reminds me of other painters, like Whistler, who were also interested in capturing atmosphere and mood. It’s like he’s saying, "Here's how I see it, here's what I feel." And maybe that's what painting is all about—sharing a vision, a moment of connection between one artist and another, across time and space. It feels like a conversation with a fellow artist about mark making and the joy of just observing the world.