Dood hert c. 1873 - 1903

This is "Dead Deer", a drawing by George Hendrik Breitner, housed in the Rijksmuseum. Breitner presents us with a scene rendered in sparse, yet evocative lines. The immediate impression is one of stillness and finality. The deer's form is loosely captured, with lines that seem to both define and dissolve its shape. The lack of detail and shading contributes to a sense of detachment. Breitner's focus isn't on anatomical accuracy but on capturing the essence of death—the slackness, the stillness. This approach aligns with the Symbolist movement’s interest in conveying emotional and psychological states through simplified forms. The composition, with the deer sprawled across the page, disrupts traditional notions of beauty and the sublime. The drawing challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths about mortality. It is a study in contrasts: life versus death, presence versus absence, detail versus simplification.