Meisjeshoofd met hoed c. 1876 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, Meisjeshoofd met hoed, with pencil on paper. Breitner was known for his images of working-class life in Amsterdam. Although this sketch depicts a young woman wearing a fancy hat, and is therefore not an obvious example of social realism, it can be seen as an exploration of the social codes of his time. The image may engage with contemporary debates about class, gender, and the changing role of women in society. The sketch has visual codes, such as the hat, which evoke particular cultural references and historical associations. We can see an imprint of the artist's atelier on the paper. Research into the archives of the Rijksmuseum may reveal more about the image's creation. Perhaps it was a quick study for a larger painting. What can the archives tell us about the sitter? Was she known to Breitner? Was she one of his models? What did it mean to depict women in this way?