Gezicht op het Rokin met een paardentram ter hoogte van Arti et Amicitiae te Amsterdam c. 1900 - 1901

This sketch of the Rokin in Amsterdam was created by George Hendrik Breitner. Breitner, working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was known for his gritty depictions of urban life. At the time, Amsterdam was experiencing rapid growth and industrialization, leading to significant social changes. Breitner's work often focused on the lives of ordinary people, capturing moments of everyday life with a sense of realism and immediacy. This sketch offers a glimpse into the bustling street scene of the Rokin. Breitner was known for his interest in capturing the fleeting moments of modern life. His loose sketch style reflects a desire to record his immediate impressions of the city around him. It invites us to reflect on how we experience and document our own rapidly changing environments, and consider whose stories are told, and whose are left out.