Sloterdijkbrug te Amsterdam, gezien vanaf de Nieuwe Teertuinen c. 1903

This sketch of Sloterdijk Bridge in Amsterdam, seen from the Nieuwe Teertuinen, was made by George Hendrik Breitner. Just imagine him there with his sketchbook. The artist's hand is clearly evident here, isn’t it? I bet he’s trying to capture a fleeting impression of the urban landscape. Look at the tentative lines, which feel like he’s thinking aloud, searching for the essential structure of the bridge and the surrounding buildings. There's an energy, a real sense of immediacy. I can really feel the raw, unfiltered perception – Breitner trying to nail something down, not quite knowing where it’s going. It’s all about the process here. It puts me in mind of other artists who are interested in documenting the experience of modern life with all its grit and dynamism. It feels unresolved, open – a place where we can wander and reflect, each of us finding something different in its delicate lines.