Annotaties 1893

George Hendrik Breitner created this annotation at an unknown date and with unknown medium; it is currently located in the Rijksmuseum. The paper shows a single date: January 8th. Dark ink lines create the impression of information noted in haste, perhaps from a personal diary. The composition is striking in its simplicity; the page is dominated by large, gestural handwriting placed almost asymmetrically, revealing the unvarnished nature of private documentation. Breitner captures a moment in time, freezing a transient thought onto paper. The ink, with its variable thickness, imbues the writing with a sense of urgency. This piece offers an insight into the artist's creative process. The formal qualities, such as the raw, immediate script, challenge our notions of fine art. Breitner prompts us to reconsider the value we assign to different modes of expression.