Gezicht op de Paleisstraat in Amsterdam 1896 - 1901

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of the Paleisstraat in Amsterdam with graphite on paper. The image is mostly linear, creating a feeling of the artist quickly trying to capture the scene in front of him. Breitner was a part of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement in the Netherlands. This sketch captures the sense of the everyday and the modern. Breitner was interested in depicting urban life and the working classes. His paintings captured the quickly changing social and economic circumstances of the Netherlands at the turn of the century. We can learn more about this sketch by looking into Breitner’s other works, along with letters and other biographical information. By understanding the social and cultural context of the Netherlands we can have a better understanding of the role of the artist.