Gezicht op de Prinsengracht te Amsterdam, ter hoogte van de Lauriergracht c. 1893s - 1903s

This quick pencil sketch of the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam was done by George Hendrik Breitner sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, it's all about the freedom of mark making. The immediacy of the scene feels so fresh and modern. The buildings and boats along the canal are described with just a few lines. See how he’s captured the reflections in the water with these loose, scribbled marks. It’s as if he’s saying, “Here’s the essence, the feeling of this place, captured in a fleeting moment.” There’s something so direct and honest about it, a reminder that art doesn’t always have to be about perfection or polish. Think of other artists who used drawing as a vital part of their artistic process, like Van Gogh or Paula Modersohn-Becker, who saw drawing as a way to think and feel on paper. Art is always a conversation, a way of seeing and responding to the world, and the conversation never ends.