Gezicht op de Nieuwe Teertuinen te Amsterdam 1912 - 1919

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing of the Nieuwe Teertuinen in Amsterdam, we don't know when, but probably using a pencil, on site. The artist seems to have been standing on the bank looking out to the scene, rapidly drawing, making swift marks of the buildings on the opposite bank. It’s as if I can see him there, sketching in his notebook, trying to capture the essence of the place, the atmosphere and how it felt to be there at that particular moment. It’s not a highly finished drawing, but it is filled with energy and immediacy. The marks are quick and confident, like he's trying to grab the moment before it slips away. I wonder if the sketch became a painting? Breitner’s work reminds me of other artists who were interested in capturing everyday life, like Degas, who also sketched people and places in a spontaneous, informal way. Artists are always having a conversation with each other, across time and space, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways. I love how this drawing embraces uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.