Gezicht op gebouwen, mogelijk in Amsterdam c. 1915 - 1916

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing of buildings, possibly in Amsterdam, with a pencil on paper. It is just a quick sketch, but that’s what I love about it. It captures the feeling of a specific place, a little wonky and off-kilter. I can imagine Breitner standing on a street corner, whipping out his sketchbook, quickly trying to capture the essence of these buildings before the light changed or the moment passed. You can see the artist's hand in the wavering lines. The buildings are not perfectly square or symmetrical. But it’s this imperfection that gives the sketch its charm and energy. Looking at this drawing, I feel connected to a long line of artists who have tried to capture the world around them with simple tools. It reminds me of other sketchers like Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec, who saw beauty in the everyday and weren't afraid to embrace the messy, imperfect nature of life.