Studieblad, onder andere met affuiten en soldaten 1873

George Hendrik Breitner made this study sheet with pencil sometime in his career. What we see here are rough sketches of military subjects like gun carriages, soldiers, and horses. Breitner was working in the Netherlands at a time when many artists were interested in depicting modern life and the realities of war. In the late 19th century, there was growing social awareness of military conflict and an interest in the lives of soldiers. Breitner's choice of subject matter reflects a broader cultural interest. His loose sketches lack the kind of polished heroic style that official military art might have. It's interesting to think about how the social conditions of his time might have led him to make art that was less formal and more focused on the everyday experiences of soldiers. To understand Breitner's work, it's helpful to look at historical sources like military records, personal letters, and other art from the period. By doing this, we can better understand how art reflects and comments on the society in which it was made.