Gezicht op werkzaamheden te Amsterdam, mogelijk in de De Clercqstraat c. 1906 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of construction in Amsterdam, possibly on De Clercqstraat, using graphite on paper. The hurried lines remind me of taking notes in a moving car; quick, decisive, and a little bit messy. The texture of the paper shows through, almost like a ghost, giving the impression of a world in flux, constantly changing. Look at how Breitner uses different line weights to suggest depth and form. It's almost like he's carving out space with his pencil. My eye is drawn to the chaotic scribble on the left page, which sort of feels like a jumble of branches against the sky. It's rough and raw, but it captures the energy of the city. In comparison, the right page has a more open and airy quality. Maybe he was inspired by artists like James Ensor, who embraced a similar kind of expressive mark-making. Ultimately, this sketch reminds us that art doesn't always have to be polished or perfect to be powerful.