Gezicht op een straat in Amsterdam 1896 - 1897

George Hendrik Breitner captured this street view in Amsterdam as a sketch within the pages of a notebook. The immediacy of the graphite on paper reveals a process of quick observation and record. The artist’s hand is evident in the varying pressures and strokes, suggesting a bustling urban environment. The weight of the graphite gives form to the buildings and vehicles, while looser lines capture the transient movement of people and carriages. The softness of the graphite allows for easy corrections and adjustments, revealing the artist's thought process as he composes the scene. This contrasts with the industrial labor that built the city of Amsterdam that he is depicting. Breitner's choice to sketch in graphite reflects a desire for direct engagement with his subject matter. It’s a kind of artistic labor, distinct from the physical labor of constructing the city, yet intertwined in its representation. It underscores the artist's role as an observer and interpreter of the modern urban experience.