Gezicht op de Veergrep bij de Kortrijksepoortstraat te Gent 1907 - 1909

This sketch of Ghent by George Hendrik Breitner is made with graphite on paper. The composition is mirrored; it’s like looking into a wonky reflection! See how Breitner uses quick, searching lines to map out the architecture. There's a real sense of process here, of the artist working through the image to find the right marks. I'm drawn to the texture of the paper, visible underneath the graphite. The light pressure of the pencil allows the fibers of the paper to peek through, giving the drawing a sense of airiness and incompleteness. I love the way the lines break and stutter, suggesting the dynamism of the urban landscape. It's a wonderful example of how a sketch can capture not just the appearance of a place, but also the feeling of being there. It reminds me a little of the early architectural drawings of Frank Gehry. It shows how art is a conversation, always building on what came before.