Paarden aan de Cruquiusweg c. 1890 - 1910

This photograph, "Paarden aan de Cruquiusweg," was taken by George Hendrik Breitner. Breitner worked in a period when photography was rapidly evolving, both as a documentary tool and as an art form. Photography involved a certain level of expertise: the preparation and handling of the photographic plates; the manipulation of light and shadow to create a desired effect. In this image, the composition centers on the material presence of the horses, their muscular forms rendered with remarkable clarity against the backdrop of a simple structure. The photograph also captures the economic realities of the time. Horses were essential for transport and labor. The image therefore invites reflection on the relationship between humans, animals, and the industrializing world. Breitner's photograph blurs the boundaries between documentary and fine art, inviting us to consider the social and economic contexts in which images are produced and consumed.