Studie, mogelijk een stadsgezicht met bomen c. 1886 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this study, possibly a cityscape with trees, using graphite on paper. I wonder what it might have been like to stand where he stood, charcoal in hand, squinting and trying to capture a fleeting impression of a place. It’s very light in tone with delicate marks. You can sense the artist's hand moving quickly, trying to pin down the essence of the scene before it disappears. There’s a wonderful energy in those lines – they’re tentative and searching, but also confident and expressive. Breitner was known for his cityscapes, so it makes sense that he might have been drawn to this subject. The drawing reminds me of the work of other artists who explored urban life, like the impressionists. It feels like it’s part of this wider conversation about how we see and experience the modern world. In a way, the piece celebrates uncertainty, inviting us to pause, question, and find our own meaning within the sketch.