Gezicht op gebouwen, mogelijk op de Dam te Amsterdam c. 1914s

This pencil sketch of buildings, possibly in Dam Square, Amsterdam, was made by George Hendrik Breitner. Look at this nervous energy! The artist has worked over and over certain lines, trying to find the form, like feeling around in the dark. I really sympathize with an artist when I see this type of searching. It’s like, where do I start, where do I stop? How do I know what is enough? I can imagine him with his sketchbook out in the square, just trying to capture the scene, but also trying to understand it. Notice how the marks are denser in some areas, giving weight and shadow, and lighter in others, suggesting distance and air. There’s a real sense of place here, even though it’s just a quick sketch. It reminds me of other plein air artists, like the Impressionists, who were also trying to capture the fleeting moments of everyday life. We all look to the artists of the past to discover the future, don't we?