Rokin

Artist George Hendrik Breitner (1857-1923)  

Title Rokin  

Year 1896  

Material Oil on canvas   

Theme 

This painting shows Rokin, a major street in Amsterdam, at the end of the nineteenth century. We see a few scattered pedestrians, while horse-drawn carriages rush by at full speed. Perhaps it has just stopped raining? This work is a snapshot of everyday life, sparse in detail but rich in movement and atmosphere. It conveys an almost tangible sense of life in turn-of-the-century Amsterdam.  

About the artist

Although he was born in Rotterdam, Breitner became famous for his paintings of Amsterdam. He wanted to depict daily life as he saw it: its noise and liveliness, as well as its drab, rainy days. The way Breitner depicted city life was highly unusual for his time, with few details and loose, coarse brushstrokes. His style was influenced by Impressionism, an art movement he discovered while working in Paris. Breitner studied at the Academy of Art in The Hague and the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam, as well as at other institutions.  

In the collection 

Acquired in 1951. De Nederlandsche Bank acquired Breitner’s painting Heiwerk (bij haven)  in 1921. These works date from the same period, the late 19th century, and are among the earliest in De Nederlandsche Bank’s art collection.