Gezicht op de Binnen Bantammerstraat bij de Geldersekade te Amsterdam c. 1890 - 1900

This sketch of Binnen Bantammerstraat near the Geldersekade in Amsterdam, was created by George Hendrik Breitner, who lived from 1857 to 1923. Breitner was known for capturing the dynamic, gritty reality of urban life in Amsterdam. During Breitner's time, Amsterdam was undergoing rapid social and economic changes. As you can see in the sketch, the city was a bustling port. This urban environment was filled with the energy of trade and labor, but it also contained deep class divisions. Breitner was interested in the lives of ordinary people, like laborers and the working class. He wanted to portray their experiences in a way that felt authentic and unromanticized. Breitner's work was sometimes criticized for being too rough or unfinished, but he embraced this aesthetic as a way to reflect the raw, unfiltered character of city life. His art challenged traditional, idealized representations of the city, instead presenting an alternative narrative focused on the everyday experiences of its inhabitants. This sketch gives us a glimpse into Breitner's artistic process. It also captures a moment in time in a rapidly changing city.