Gezicht op de Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam c. 1909

George Hendrik Breitner sketched this view of the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, probably in situ, directly in his sketchbook, and we get to see that. What interests me is the pure line, the feeling that he’s trying to capture a sense of place and light and space through this very delicate, almost tentative drawing. Look at the ways the lines vary in weight and pressure – some are barely there, while others are more defined, creating a sense of depth and shadow. It feels like he’s feeling his way through the scene, letting the marks accumulate and build up the image. The repetition of lines and the slight variations between the left and right pages gives it a kind of stuttering rhythm, like a half-remembered melody. This sketch feels like a visual diary entry, a moment captured in time. You can imagine him standing there, quickly jotting down what he sees, not trying to create a perfect representation, but rather to capture the essence of the moment. Think of these drawings as being a bit like those of Degas. Like Degas, Breitner embraced the unfinished, the imperfect, and the fleeting glimpse.