Studie, mogelijk van een stadsgezicht met water c. 1886 - 1923

This sketch, possibly of a cityscape with water, was made by George Hendrik Breitner. It’s all about the pure, unadulterated joy of mark-making. Look closely, and you’ll see how the charcoal almost dances across the page, light and free. The texture is wonderfully varied, from the soft, smudged areas to the sharper, more defined lines. There's a dark shape on the left, maybe a building or a boat, and it’s formed with these really confident, energetic strokes. It’s not about perfect representation, but about capturing a feeling, a fleeting moment. Breitner’s work reminds me a bit of James McNeill Whistler. Both were interested in capturing the ephemeral qualities of light and atmosphere. This piece feels like a conversation with art history, a reminder that art is always evolving, always questioning, always searching.