Studies 1887 - 1891

This is a sketch called "Studies" by George Hendrik Breitner. Breitner lived in a time of great change and social upheaval, witnessing the shift from agrarian societies to urbanized, industrialized nations. Breitner was known for capturing everyday life in Amsterdam. It is an intimate glimpse into his artistic process. The seemingly random assortment of images invites us to consider the relationship between the artist and his subjects. Are these studies for a larger work, or fragments of a world that Breitner found compelling in their own right? Breitner's work often focused on the lives of ordinary people, particularly women. His unflinching portrayal of urban life challenged the romanticized views of the Dutch Golden Age, creating a more complex and nuanced understanding of Dutch identity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This piece is like a private conversation, a meditation on what it means to see and be seen in a rapidly changing world.