Schepen 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of ships with pencil on paper. Breitner was known for his depictions of working-class life in Amsterdam at the end of the 19th century, a period of rapid industrialization and social change in the Netherlands. In this drawing, Breitner captures the hustle and bustle of the harbor, with ships and the implied presence of dockworkers rendered in quick, gestural lines. The sketch reflects the artist’s interest in portraying the gritty realities of urban life, a theme that resonated with the broader Realist movement in European art. Breitner was associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement that questioned the role of art institutions. His work often challenged the traditional art establishment, as it sought to depict the everyday experiences of ordinary people. To understand Breitner's work better, it's important to look at social histories of Amsterdam and study the institutional history of Dutch art in the late 19th century. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.