Gezicht op gebouwen en bomen 1907 - 1909

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of buildings and trees with graphite on paper. Look at how the sharp, angular lines capture the raw energy of the urban landscape. I can almost see him standing there, quickly filling the pages of his sketchbook, trying to capture the essence of what he saw. I can imagine Breitner wrestling with the composition, deciding what to include and what to leave out. The texture of the paper becomes part of the drawing itself, adding depth and complexity. See how each stroke feels deliberate, yet spontaneous, as if he’s translating his immediate experience onto the page. Breitner’s sketches were very influential for other artists. It's like one big conversation, artists riffing off each other’s ideas across time, isn’t it? His work reminds me that painting and drawing aren’t just about representation, but about feeling, and seeing, and trying.