Gezicht op de sloop van het Leesmuseum aan het Rokin te Amsterdam c. 1903

This is a graphite sketchbook drawing by George Hendrik Breitner, documenting the demolition of the Leesmuseum in Amsterdam. I can almost feel the scratch of the pencil on paper as Breitner captured this scene. There's a beautiful tension between the solid architectural forms and the gestural lines suggesting movement and change. Look at the windows – some are clearly defined, while others dissolve into a haze of graphite. I wonder what Breitner was thinking as he watched the building being torn down? Maybe he felt a sense of loss for the knowledge and stories contained within its walls, or maybe he was excited by the possibilities of urban renewal. I think he’s asking us to consider the transient nature of the city, constantly building and destroying. This piece reminds me of other urban sketchers like Camille Pissarro, who also documented the changing face of the city with such sensitivity and nuance. It's a reminder that artists are always in conversation with one another, drawing inspiration from the world around them and from each other.