Studie, mogelijk van een kade c. 1900 - 1901

This study, possibly of a quay, was created by George Hendrik Breitner, a Dutch artist active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Breitner, working during a period of rapid industrialization and urbanization, sought to capture the dynamism of modern life. The sketch provides a glimpse into Breitner's artistic process. It may seem unfinished, but it captures a moment, an observation from daily life. The loose lines and ambiguous forms invite us to complete the image with our own imagination. What does the raised finger signify? Is it pointing, directing, or simply gesturing? The sketch prompts a narrative, a fleeting interaction at the edge of the water. The work provides a glimpse into the changing social landscape of Amsterdam at the time. As he noted himself, he was interested in the lives of the 'common people'. In this drawing, Breitner captures the energy of a port city, a place of constant coming and going. It's a sketch that reveals the artist's eye but also invites us to engage emotionally with the scene, to feel the pulse of a city in transition.