Gezicht in Amsterdam, mogelijk de Dam c. 1902 - 1914

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of a view in Amsterdam, possibly the Dam, using a soft drawing material. It’s all about the process, right? You can almost feel Breitner figuring things out as he goes. The texture here is fascinating because it’s so raw. It’s like you’re looking at his first thoughts. See how the lines aren’t precious? They’re thick, thin, and sometimes just smudged. On the left, there's a dark, blocky shape that almost looks like a building, but it's just a collection of marks. I love how he doesn’t try to hide the mess, it is as if the city is emerging from the page before your very eyes. Breitner's work reminds me a little of Cy Twombly, not in style, but in the way, they both embrace the unfinished. Art isn’t about perfection; it’s about that ongoing conversation, that exploration of possibilities.