Figuren op een brug in Amsterdam c. 1886 - 1923

This sketch of figures on a bridge in Amsterdam was made by George Hendrik Breitner, probably with charcoal or graphite, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The sketchy marks almost feel like notes jotted down, capturing a fleeting moment in time. Looking at the surface, you can almost feel the roughness of the paper through the smudged charcoal. It’s a very immediate and physical thing. Breitner's marks are so direct, like he’s trying to grab hold of something that’s slipping away. The thick, dark line that forms the bridge’s edge is so bold, it anchors the whole composition. It is like a stage, setting the scene for these anonymous figures. Breitner's work reminds me a lot of Edgar Degas, both capturing everyday life with a similar sense of immediacy. This sketch is a reminder that art is not about perfect representation, but about capturing a feeling, an idea, a moment.