Gezicht op de Dam te Amsterdam 1893

This sketch, "Gezicht op de Dam te Amsterdam" by George Hendrik Breitner, is a glimpse into the artist's mind, jotted down within the rigid structure of a daily planner. The planner format itself becomes a stage for Breitner's exploration, the rigid lines of the calendar page contrasting the freedom of his strokes. Look at how the buildings are rendered as near-abstract blocks of light and shadow, stripped of detail. Breitner returns again and again in his oeuvre to the motif of the city street. The very act of sketching, of capturing a fleeting moment, is reminiscent of the ancient concept of "memento mori" – a reminder of life's ephemeral nature. This brings to mind the sketches of cityscapes found in the Renaissance notebooks, a testament to the human desire to freeze a moment in time. These images echo through time and space, evolving from celebrations of urban prowess to more intimate observations of modern life. It's a potent reminder that our existence, like the artist's sketch, is etched onto the pages of time.