Gezicht op het Rokin te Amsterdam 1886 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing of the Rokin in Amsterdam with pencil and charcoal on paper. Look at the smudges and quick, searching lines! You get the feeling Breitner was really trying to capture the essence of the place, not just a perfect picture. I can imagine him standing there, sketchbook in hand, squinting at the buildings and the water. The charcoal marks are so immediate, like he’s wrestling with the scene, trying to pin it down. See how the lines are kind of shaky and uneven? It's like he's shivering in the cold, or maybe just really excited to get it all down on paper. This drawing reminds me that art isn't always about being polished. Sometimes, it's about the raw energy and the act of seeing. It’s like he's sharing his way of seeing with us, inviting us to join in his visual exploration. We’re all just riffing off each other, you know?