Figuren op straat c. 1886s

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, "Figuren op straat," which translates to "Figures on the street," capturing a fleeting moment of urban life. Breitner was a part of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement at the end of the 19th century, a time when artists were keenly interested in depicting the everyday lives of ordinary people. This drawing is a quick study of figures moving through a streetscape, a scene which Breitner witnessed in the city of Amsterdam. The rough, unfinished quality gives you a sense of immediacy, as though you’re standing alongside the artist, observing the hustle and bustle. Breitner's work often focused on the working class and marginalized communities. His commitment to realism, and his empathetic depiction of the transient nature of urban existence, challenges the more romanticized portrayals of city life.