Studies van vrouwen 1886 - 1923

This sketch of women was done in graphite by George Hendrik Breitner, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The wispy quality of the graphite lines makes me think about art-making as a process, a kind of thinking-through-drawing. It's all about capturing fleeting moments, or the essence of a form rather than a photographic likeness. Look at the marks around the figures' heads, see how they create volume and shadow with just a few strokes? It's like Breitner is feeling out the shapes, letting the graphite lead the way. And that smeared area at the bottom? Maybe a thumbprint, maybe a smudge – it reminds us of the artist's hand, the physical act of making art. There is something about the unfinished nature of the sketch that makes it feel alive, as if the women are still in the process of emerging from the page. It reminds me of drawings by Paula Modersohn-Becker, where the simplicity of line conveys so much depth and emotion. Ultimately, this piece celebrates the beauty of imperfection and the magic of seeing.