Stadsgezicht 1884 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner made this city scene, or Stadsgezicht, with a pencil on paper. Breitner was an Amsterdam painter and photographer who documented city life at the turn of the 20th century. This sketch emphasizes the modern infrastructures of the city, such as the bridges and canals. Breitner was part of a generation of artists that sought to represent modern life and the changing social conditions of Europe's urban centers. The art institutions of Breitner's time were becoming more attuned to modern art, but the criteria for artistic value were still rooted in older aesthetic values. Artists like Breitner tested the boundaries of what kind of art could be considered worthy of the public's attention. Art historical research into the cultural context of this sketch can help us understand how social and institutional forces shape artistic production.