Dak met een halsgevel 1896 - 1897

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of a rooftop with a neck gable in the Netherlands. As we can see, it was drawn in pencil on a page torn from a notebook. Breitner belonged to a generation of artists who responded to the rapid urbanisation of Amsterdam, and how this transformed the lives of ordinary people. Here, the rooftop and gable become representatives of the city itself. Architectural features like this gable are visual codes that trigger historical associations. They remind us of Amsterdam’s rich trading history. You can also see the kind of down-to-earth subject matter favoured by the Hague School – a group of artists Breitner was associated with early in his career. To truly appreciate Breitner's work, we delve into the archives, exploring photographs, letters, and documents that illuminate his world. By understanding the social and institutional context, we gain a richer understanding of the meaning of his art.