Staand meisje Possibly 1883 - 1886

This is George Hendrik Breitner’s charcoal drawing of a standing girl. The sketch is dominated by the stark contrast between the light paper and the dark, gestural strokes of charcoal. The figure emerges from a constellation of lines, their varying thickness suggesting volume and shadow. The composition defies conventional perspective; the figure seems to float, unanchored, challenging our sense of space. Breitner’s use of charcoal is not merely representational; it is an exploration of form itself. The marks are raw and immediate, capturing the essence of a fleeting moment. Is the figure truly standing, or is she caught in a state of becoming? The ambiguity is intentional, inviting us to question the nature of representation and the illusion of solidity. The sketch is not simply a portrait, but a meditation on the act of seeing, on the interplay of light and shadow, and on the ephemeral nature of existence. It reminds us that meaning is not fixed but is co-created between the artist, the artwork, and the viewer.