Bouwvakkers aan de rand van Amsterdam 1896 - 1897

George Hendrik Breitner created this sketch of construction workers on the outskirts of Amsterdam using graphite on paper. Drawn without sentiment, these figures exemplify the kinds of workers who fueled the rapid growth of Amsterdam during the late 19th century. Breitner trained at the Hague School and then at the Rijksakademie, and was interested in documenting working-class life in the Netherlands. The late 1800s was a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization in the Netherlands, as well as increasing social stratification. Breitner himself was interested in socialist politics, and he was part of a group of artists and intellectuals who believed that art should be used to promote social change. To better understand Breitner's art, and his social context, we can look to sources such as newspapers, city archives, and socialist pamphlets. These kinds of resources help historians connect art to broader social and institutional forces.