Twee aangespannen paarden, mogelijk op de Dam in Amsterdam 1893 - 1894

George Hendrik Breitner sketched “Twee aangespannen paarden, mogelijk op de Dam in Amsterdam,” or “Two harnessed horses, possibly on Dam Square in Amsterdam,” directly into his sketchbook, capturing the essence of urban life around the turn of the 20th century. Breitner, who lived from 1857 to 1923, was deeply embedded in Amsterdam's social fabric, documenting its streets and inhabitants with an unflinching eye. This sketch offers us a glimpse into his process. The horses, likely working animals, were essential to the city’s economy and infrastructure. Breitner's work often intersected with themes of labor and the everyday struggles of working-class people, although this sketch does not delve explicitly into those themes, it places us within the context of a bustling, industrializing city. Breitner himself said he was not out to paint beautiful things but was interested in what he saw and how he saw it. In its immediacy, this drawing invites us to consider the relationship between human and animal labor, and the rapid transformations reshaping Amsterdam at the time. It evokes a sense of movement, the hustle, and the energy of a city in constant flux.