Stadsgezicht met marktkramen Possibly 1881 - 1883

This quick pencil sketch titled "Stadsgezicht met marktkramen" or "Cityscape with Market Stalls" was created by George Hendrik Breitner, an artist who lived from 1857 to 1923. Breitner was a key figure in the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, known for capturing the energy of urban life. As a Dutchman, Breitner was deeply influenced by the social and economic changes of his time, as industrialization transformed cities like Amsterdam. Unlike traditional landscape painters, Breitner was interested in how the everyday lives of working-class people were affected by this change. In this sketch we see an interest in representing a market, possibly one that would have been full of activity. Breitner once said he aimed to capture ‘the gray, the common.’ This choice of the ‘common’ is significant. In focusing on the ordinary he disrupted the traditional art world, which often ignored the reality of everyday labor. He represents the cultural shift toward the democratic representation of life. It reflects a move toward recognizing the value and dignity of all people, regardless of their social status.