Bemand schip onder een brug 1880 - 1882

This is a graphite sketch of a ship under a bridge, made by George Hendrik Breitner. The immediacy of the graphite medium lends itself well to the study of the industrial landscape, with quick lines that capture the scene's atmosphere. The stark contrast between light and shadow in the sketch emphasizes the weightiness of the bridge, achieved through dense, layered marks, in comparison to the more sparse, linear depiction of the ship. This contrast mirrors the social realities of Breitner's time, where industrial progress coexisted with the labor required to propel it. Breitner's choice of graphite, a readily available material, connects the work to the everyday experiences of urban life and labour. It invites us to consider how materials and making processes reflect the broader cultural and economic contexts in which art is created, blurring the lines between fine art and the realities of daily existence.