Gezicht op de Nieuwe Kerk te Amsterdam c. 1903

This drawing of the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam was made by George Hendrik Breitner using graphite on paper. It looks like a quick sketch, a way for Breitner to capture a fleeting impression. You can see the texture of the paper, the lines are smudged and sketchy, not precise at all. It's interesting how he uses these very simple marks to suggest the forms of buildings and the space around them. Like he's feeling his way through the scene, trying to grab it before it disappears. There’s a cluster of lines on the left of the page, kind of scribbled, but somehow they suggest the mass of the building beyond. Breitner was known for his interest in everyday life, and this sketch feels like a glimpse into his process, a moment of seeing and recording, that reminds me of Van Gogh's rough sketches of the Dutch landscape, both artists capturing the world around them in their own unique ways. Art’s not about answers but about the questions.