View in Amsterdam 1880 - 1923

This is George Hendrik Breitner’s, *View in Amsterdam*, made with oil on cardboard. I love the loose handling of the paint here; it feels as if Breitner is trying to capture the essence of a scene rather than a literal depiction. The materiality of the work really shines through; you can almost feel the texture of the brushstrokes, thick in some areas, thin in others. Look at the way he renders the horse’s body, with broad, gestural strokes of grey and white. It’s not about perfect representation, but about the energy and movement of the animal. Notice the dark, almost scribbled lines that define the figure of the man beside the horse. It's as if Breitner is suggesting the impermanence of human presence against the backdrop of the city. Reminds me a bit of some of Gustave Courbet’s paintings, with its focus on everyday life and its raw, unrefined style. You see how artists build on each other's ideas, creating an ongoing conversation across generations.