Afbraak van het Damrak te Amsterdam c. 1902

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of the demolition of the Damrak in Amsterdam using graphite on paper. Breitner's choice of graphite, a humble material, is interesting here. Typically used for preliminary sketches, it emphasizes the immediacy and transience of the scene. The varying pressure and density of the graphite lines create a sense of depth and texture, capturing the rough and chaotic nature of demolition. You can almost feel the dust and debris in the air. The quick, gestural marks speak to the labor involved in the process of urban transformation, a process that both creates and destroys, building up new structures while dismantling the old. It’s this connection to the everyday realities of work, progress, and change that defines Breitner's artistic vision. Ultimately, understanding the artist's choice of materials and process allows us to appreciate how the artwork captures not just a scene, but also a moment of social and economic change.