Annotaties 1893

These annotations were made by George Hendrik Breitner in an undated notebook, using ink on paper. We see the intimate marks left by Breitner as he jotted down reminders and thoughts. The paper provides a soft, absorbent ground for the ink, which bleeds slightly, giving the handwriting a personal, almost ephemeral quality. This isn't about high art materials or processes; it's about the everyday act of recording thoughts. The mass-produced notebook and pen, accessible to many, become tools for Breitner to structure his day and capture fleeting ideas. Consider the labor involved, not in the sense of skilled craftsmanship, but the simple, repetitive act of writing. Each stroke of the pen, each word chosen, reflects Breitner's intent and the effort to translate thought into tangible form. It’s a glimpse into the artist's working process, one that values the immediate and the functional. This work invites us to look beyond traditional notions of art and appreciate the significance of commonplace materials and processes.