Gebouw in Scheveningen 1880 - 1882

Curator: This drawing by George Hendrik Breitner is entitled "Building in Scheveningen" and was created between 1880 and 1882, placing it early in his career. It is executed in pencil on paper and resides here in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first thought is it looks almost like a phantom building, rising up faintly from the page. The lightness of the pencil lines gives it an ethereal quality. What do you see in terms of the socio-political history being represented here? Curator: Scheveningen in the late 19th century was undergoing rapid development, transforming from a humble fishing village into a bustling seaside resort. This sketch captures that sense of transition and architectural transformation, even in its somewhat unfinished state. It speaks to the societal shift towards urbanization and leisure. Editor: You know, there's a raw, almost childlike quality to the sketchiness, wouldn't you say? It’s like capturing an idea still forming. And the light touch communicates the fleeting, quickly vanishing moment. Curator: Absolutely, and it also demonstrates the artist's interest in capturing the immediacy of urban life. Breitner was fascinated by the everyday scenes of the city and often used sketches like these as preparatory studies for larger paintings, making the historical background a starting point in a longer study. Editor: Which makes me wonder what kind of paintings came from this preliminary drawing. The starkness seems somehow honest to the location, more direct than some elaborate canvas could capture. Curator: The Rijksmuseum is fortunate to hold many works by Breitner. The artist stands at the vanguard of a key turning point in visualizing modernity in the Netherlands, as well as European Art. Editor: Seeing it in this setting makes me aware of the journey a sketch like this has undertaken, going from the hand of a person seeing a structure to a space representing that building for so many to consider years later. Curator: A transformation, much like Scheveningen experienced in the late nineteenth century! Editor: Indeed. An excellent place to conclude. Thank you.