Aangemeerde boten in Amsterdam 1893 - 1898

This is a graphite drawing titled 'Aangemeerde boten in Amsterdam,' or 'Moored boats in Amsterdam' by George Hendrik Breitner. Breitner, who lived from 1857 to 1923, captured Amsterdam with an unvarnished realism, turning away from romantic portrayals of the city. Breitner was deeply engaged with the everyday lives of working-class women in Amsterdam, a subject that surfaces in his paintings and photography. This sketch, with its raw and immediate quality, reflects an interest in the unadorned realities of urban life, resonating with the socio-political currents of the time. Breitner sought to represent life as it was lived, a world away from the idealized visions of his contemporaries. This sketch stands as a powerful expression of his commitment to capturing the essence of a changing Amsterdam, with the emotional weight of an artist deeply connected to the pulse of the city.