Gezicht op de Kalverstraat te Amsterdam met de Nieuwe Kerk 1914 - 1923

Editor: This pencil drawing is titled "Gezicht op de Kalverstraat te Amsterdam met de Nieuwe Kerk," placing us in Amsterdam between 1914 and 1923, captured by George Hendrik Breitner, and housed at the Rijksmuseum. There's an unfinished quality, an energy that reminds me of quick notes on a page. It feels spontaneous, but I’m wondering, what do you see when you look at it? Curator: It's a glimpse into Breitner's creative process, a hurried yet thoughtful embrace of urban life, as the title indicates, capturing the essence of Amsterdam’s Kalverstraat and Nieuwe Kerk, known as New Church. See how the lack of crispness almost vibrates with life. The sketch invites us to fill in the blanks, a collaboration of sorts, don’t you think? It isn't necessarily photo-realism but perhaps feeling-realism? Editor: Feeling-realism, that's interesting! So it's not about capturing exactly what was there, but how it felt to be there? Curator: Precisely. Breitner was known for his involvement with 'Amsterdam Impressionism', wasn't he? And in many ways, it is an attempt to portray a specific subjective impression as authentically as he can. Consider how radical this perspective was then, and in many ways still is today. It can feel rather empowering to embrace the unfinished! Editor: I never really considered 'unfinished' as powerful, but I do get a better sense now about how intention can still communicate even when a piece isn't completely fleshed out. Thank you. Curator: The pleasure is mine. Always lovely to unpack a 'feeling' and give it its due credit.