Figuren voor een gebouw, waarschijnlijk in Amsterdam 1893

This sketch titled, Figuren voor een gebouw, waarschijnlijk in Amsterdam, was made by George Hendrik Breitner. It's a striking composition in charcoal, where Breitner captures an urban scene with bold, almost brutal strokes. On the left, we see the suggestion of architectural forms, rendered with dense, dark shading that contrasts sharply with the open space of the right page. The artist destabilizes traditional representational values, opting instead for a raw, immediate impression. Breitner's sketch engages with the semiotic function of line and form to create a sense of place. The lack of conventional perspective encourages us to question fixed meanings, pushing beyond mere depiction to explore the essence of urban experience. It prompts us to consider how sketches can function not just as preparatory studies, but as autonomous works that challenge our perceptions and expectations.