Building Site in Amsterdam, George Hendrik Breitner, c. 1900
oil on canvas, h 52cm × w 91cm More details
Amsterdam underwent tremendous growth at the turn of the 20th century. The city expanded with new residential areas built on millions of piles. Breitner was fascinated by the modern metropolis and its many building sites. In this painting, we see new homes rising on the left, while a horse drags a pile into the construction pit in the foreground. On the right, another pile is driven into the ground with a steam hammer, a recent invention.
