Zittende vrouw Possibly 1882 - 1886

Editor: Breitner's "Zittende Vrouw," or "Seated Woman," a pencil drawing from around the 1880s at the Rijksmuseum, feels incredibly intimate, almost like catching a glimpse of a private moment. It's so raw and immediate. What strikes you most about this work? Curator: Oh, the quiet intensity, definitely! For me, it's like stumbling upon a whispered secret, you know? Breitner captures the essence of the sitter with such economical strokes. It's a fleeting observation, not a posed portrait. You can almost feel him quickly sketching in his notebook, capturing a sense of everyday life and the transient beauty he found within it. Do you think the roughness adds something to it? Editor: Absolutely! It feels so much more alive because of the unfinished quality. You get the sense that Breitner wasn’t trying to create some idealized image but rather trying to capture a specific moment in time, unfiltered. What about the social context – how might that have influenced this type of quick sketch? Curator: Good question! Amsterdam in the 1880s was transforming rapidly – growing, changing. I think Breitner, in his own way, wanted to document those shifts and the real people within them, not just the polished facade. This little drawing could almost be considered street photography, except with pencil and paper! It reveals something genuine. Almost as though, by choosing subjects from his everyday life, like perhaps a lover, he could better relate and become a storyteller through each observational study. Do you find yourself drawn to any other artists with similar aims? Editor: It really does make me think of Degas' pastels of dancers – that same immediacy and capturing of movement. It’s amazing how much can be conveyed with just a few lines. I see the difference in approach now... and in both intent and presentation. Thanks, that helped bring so much into focus. Curator: My pleasure entirely! Isn't it lovely when a simple sketch reveals such depth? It makes me wonder what fleeting moments *I* might try to capture in my own life...