Studie, mogelijk van twee staande vrouwen 1886 - 1923

Editor: Here we have "Studie, mogelijk van twee staande vrouwen," or "Study, possibly of two standing women," by George Hendrik Breitner, made sometime between 1886 and 1923. It's a pencil sketch, pretty rough, but striking. There's something vulnerable in its unfinished quality. What jumps out at you? Curator: Vulnerable is a great word. It's like catching a glimpse into Breitner's creative process, isn't it? I see a kind of raw honesty in these quick lines. Notice how he’s not trying to pretty anything up. He's just trying to capture the essence of form. It feels more like a fleeting thought than a carefully constructed image. Almost like spying into his subconscious… what do you think he’s reaching for here? Editor: Maybe the weight of the fabric, the way the light hits the folds? Or just practicing capturing human forms, the tilt of a head, maybe? I can almost imagine him quickly sketching these women while they were unaware. Curator: Precisely! Think of it this way: Breitner was living in a rapidly changing Amsterdam. He was fascinated by everyday life, by capturing fleeting moments. This sketch feels like he's trying to hold onto something ephemeral, to give permanence to the transient beauty he found in the streets. It’s not just about the fabric or the light; it’s about distilling an experience. A feeling. Like a poem jotted down on a napkin, a whisper before it vanishes. It’s also clearly a study – not designed to be the final work. What feeling does the word ‘study’ bring for you when approaching this image? Editor: I guess it reminds me of the imperfect and unfinished. So maybe I am understanding a bit of that feeling when it comes to interpreting the work! Curator: Absolutely! And isn't that the beauty of a sketch like this? It invites us to complete the story, to project our own experiences onto these suggestive lines. To connect, if even briefly, with a humanistic quality that makes it special. Editor: Definitely. It feels less about perfection and more about connection.