Stadsgezicht met een paard-en-wagen 1880 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing with black chalk, called "Cityscape with a Horse and Cart" but I see much more here than that. The marks in this piece are raw and quick, giving it an unfinished feel, like a snapshot of a moment in time. The texture of the chalk on paper is very apparent, and the energy of the marks really brings the scene to life. Look at the horse’s legs. It feels like Breitner is trying to capture the hustle and bustle of the city with the barest of means, but the essence of his subject is there. When I look at this piece, I’m reminded of other artists who were interested in capturing modern life, like Edgar Degas, but there is also something very modern about it. It’s like a sketch for a larger painting, but it stands on its own as a work of art.