Gezicht op de Dam te Amsterdam met het Koninklijk Paleis 1893

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of the Dam Square in Amsterdam with charcoal on paper. It’s a quick and energetic study of a bustling city scene. Charcoal, made from burnt wood, is one of the oldest drawing materials. Its crumbly texture allows for a wide range of tonal values, from the softest grays to the deepest blacks, but it is not without limitations. Here, Breitner has used these properties to his advantage to depict the scene in front of him, choosing quick gestural lines to describe the Royal Palace, the surrounding buildings, and the overall atmosphere. The immediacy of charcoal lends itself well to capturing fleeting moments, like the ever-changing landscape of a city square. It’s an accessible material, a democratic medium, that has been favored by artists for centuries. This drawing shows us how the most fundamental materials can yield powerful artistic expression.