Twee vrouwenbustes c. 1912

This quick sketch by George Hendrik Breitner, “Two Women Busts”, is made with graphite on paper. I love the way the quick, almost frantic lines bring these two characters to life. You can almost feel the energy of the artist trying to capture a fleeting moment. The top figure is really animated, mouth open, maybe in surprise or mid-sentence. The lines are so scratchy and raw, it’s like he’s digging into the paper to find her expression. Then there's the woman below, more introspective, head resting on her hand. The contrast between the two is really striking, like two sides of the same coin. It makes me think of other sketch artists like Daumier, who use simple lines to convey so much about the human condition. Ultimately, what I love about this piece is how it embraces the beauty of imperfection, reminding us that art is often about the process, not just the final product.