Stadsgezicht, mogelijk Amsterdam 1909

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing, possibly of Amsterdam, with graphite on paper. It’s all about gesture, right? The quick, almost scribbled lines give you this amazing sense of the city's energy. You can almost feel the hustle and bustle just by looking at these marks. What strikes me is how Breitner uses line and pressure to create a sense of depth. See how some lines are darker, more defined? These seem to jump forward, while the lighter, sketchier lines fade into the background. It’s like he’s mapping out the space with his pencil, not just depicting it. This one stroke going down at the bottom left is so rough. It makes me think about the texture of the buildings, the grit of the city. It also makes me think of Cy Twombly’s line work and his love of the gesture. Breitner’s drawing reminds us that art isn’t about perfection but capturing a fleeting moment. It’s about the energy and the process.