Bebouwing c. 1880 - 1906

This is a sketch entitled 'Bebouwing' by George Hendrik Breitner. Breitner worked in Amsterdam in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time of rapid urbanization and industrial expansion. The sketch is raw, capturing a moment of urban development with stark lines against the blank page, hinting at the broader social and economic shifts reshaping Dutch society. Breitner’s impressionistic approach moves away from traditional, romanticized depictions of urban life, instead providing a glimpse into the changing landscape. His work often focused on the experiences of the working class and marginalized communities. This aligns with the socio-political climate of the time, as industrialization brought visible wealth, but also poverty and inequality. Breitner was quoted as saying, "Painting is seeing and feeling." This sketch invites us to consider the feelings evoked by urban change - the excitement of progress mingled with the potential loss of human connection. How does this depiction of urban development speak to our own experiences of change and identity in the modern world?