Gezicht in Amsterdam met twee aangespannen paarden c. 1895 - 1898

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of Amsterdam with charcoal on paper sometime around the turn of the 20th century. During this time, the Netherlands was experiencing rapid urbanization and industrialization, which had a profound impact on its art. Breitner was known for capturing the dynamism of modern urban life, and here we see that through the lens of two horses pulling a carriage, a mode of transport being quickly replaced by streetcars and automobiles. The sketch is more than just an image; it's a social document that speaks to the changing conditions of life in Amsterdam at the time, made at a time when artists began to move away from the more academic traditions of the art world. The Rijksmuseum preserves not only the artwork but also a critical piece of Dutch cultural heritage. By studying archival materials, such as photographs and newspapers, we can better understand the social forces that shaped Breitner’s art and its role in reflecting and critiquing the transformations of his era.