Gezicht op de Oude Kerk te Amsterdam 1909

This sketch of the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam was made by George Hendrik Breitner, probably in his sketchbook. Look at the immediacy of the marks! It feels like he's trying to capture not just the scene, but also the moment, the light, the very air. You know, sometimes the most exciting thing about a drawing is how raw it is. Breitner isn't trying to hide anything here. The lines are scratchy, searching, like he's feeling his way through the scene. There’s a real sense of place, but it’s all about suggestion. The way he uses these quick, dark strokes, especially in the lower half, it’s almost like he’s building the scene from the ground up. It's honest, like a conversation. This makes me think of Cy Twombly, another artist who embraced the beauty of the imperfect line. It’s like they’re both saying, "Here's what I saw, here's how I felt, take it or leave it." And I, for one, am taking it.