Gebouw in een landschap 1881 - 1883

This sketch, Building in a Landscape, was made by George Hendrik Breitner, though we don’t know exactly when. Breitner lived through a period of rapid urbanization and social change in the Netherlands. During his career, Breitner became known for his ability to capture the essence of everyday life, especially the working class. He was interested in showing a more truthful view of the world, not hiding the difficult parts. Breitner's approach was groundbreaking because he focused on real life instead of idealized scenes. This sketch invites you to consider what is not there, and how those absences affect how we see the world. Breitner gives us space to bring our own experiences and feelings to what he has captured. In a way, the incompleteness of the sketch is an invitation. This piece reflects an honest engagement with modernity and human experience.