The Singel bridge near the Paleisstraat in Amsterdam, George Hendrik Breitner, 1896 The Singel bridge near the Paleisstraat in Amsterdam. Winter view with figures crossing the bridge. In the foreground a woman wearing voile and a brown cloak trimmed with fur. Breitner often took his own photographs in preparation for his paintings. A number of such preliminary studies are known from this painting too. The way the woman walks straight towards us and the cropping of the image look very photographic. Initially, a maid was painted here, but after negative criticism, the art dealer selling his paintings thought it would be better if Breitner turned it into a lady.
