Twee paardenhoofden 1893

George Hendrik Breitner made this charcoal drawing, Two Horses' Heads, on paper sometime between 1880 and 1923. Here, we see an image of working horses. As a social realist, Breitner was known for capturing the daily life of working-class Amsterdam. Horses played a crucial role in the city's infrastructure and economy. During the late 19th century, rapid urbanization and industrialization transformed Amsterdam and the Netherlands. Breitner's choice of subject reflects this social reality, documenting the labor and lives of the animals that were a central part of it. The sketch-like quality of the drawing provides a glimpse into the artist's process. This work invites us to consider the social conditions that shaped artistic production in the Netherlands during this period. Catalogues, letters, and municipal records can reveal more about the meaning of Breitner's art as something that is contingent on social and institutional context.