Brug over de Reguliersgracht te Amsterdam, gezien vanaf de Keizersgracht c. 1898

This is George Hendrik Breitner’s sketch “Bridge over the Reguliersgracht in Amsterdam, seen from the Keizersgracht." Breitner was known for capturing the daily life of Amsterdam, particularly the working class. He moved in social realist circles, influenced by Émile Zola and the French naturalists. In this drawing, we see an intimate glimpse into his process. It's like we’re looking over his shoulder as he quickly captures the scene before him. The sketchiness of the lines, the immediacy, suggests a desire to capture not just the physical appearance of the bridge and canal, but also the atmosphere of the city. You can almost feel the dampness in the air, the hustle and bustle of daily life. Breitner was interested in the experience of modernity, in how industrialization and urbanization were changing the fabric of everyday life. There is a sense of authenticity, a commitment to portraying the world as he saw it, without romanticizing it. It leaves us with an emotional resonance, a connection to a specific time and place.