Gezicht op een straat, mogelijk in Amsterdam 1886 - 1908

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of a street, possibly in Amsterdam, using graphite on paper. Breitner was known for his images of working-class life and the urban environment in the Netherlands during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This sketch offers a glimpse into Breitner’s artistic process, showing how he captured the essence of a scene with just a few lines. Consider the social context: Amsterdam was a rapidly growing city, undergoing significant changes due to industrialization and urbanization. Artists like Breitner played a role in documenting and interpreting these changes, offering a window into the lives of ordinary people and the spaces they inhabited. Art history is about understanding the social conditions that shape artistic production. By examining artworks like this sketch alongside historical documents, photographs, and other sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the past and the ways in which artists engaged with the world around them.