Portret van een bereden artillerist met twee paarden 1886 - 1910

Editor: So here we have George Hendrik Breitner's "Portret van een bereden artillerist met twee paarden," which translates to "Portrait of a Mounted Artilleryman with Two Horses," created sometime between 1886 and 1910. It’s a gelatin silver print. There's a kind of quiet stillness to this; the solider seems rooted in place, flanked by these magnificent animals. It feels like a moment suspended in time. What stands out to you? Curator: It whispers stories, doesn't it? For me, it's Breitner's embrace of photography to capture a realism then unseen. Forget romantic heroism! This is a soldier, yes, but the earthiness of the scene, that silvered light – it almost hums with the everyday reality of military life. Do you see how the horizon line practically bisects the frame, forcing your gaze on the figures? It's a powerful compositional choice. Editor: Absolutely. I’m also wondering about his choice of medium. He’s using photography when many artists are focused on painting. Curator: Exactly! It was revolutionary. Breitner wasn't just documenting; he was using the camera to find a certain… truth. A truth absent of frills and theatrical drama. You see it in the weariness etched on the soldier’s face, perhaps even in the slight slump of the horses. I imagine him seeking this honesty like a miner seeks gold. But what do you think, is it successful? Editor: I think it really is. The image is incredibly striking and unique. Before seeing it, I couldn’t have imagined a picture from that period exuding so much understated realism. Curator: Agreed. It's almost as though we're there, breathing the same air, feeling the weight of the moment alongside them. Editor: I’m leaving with a whole new perspective on pictorialism. It was right in front of me but until now, I’d somehow never noticed its unadorned beauty. Thanks for showing me that. Curator: My pleasure, it is indeed very beautiful, and thanks for taking that ride with me. It really gallops to something unique, does it not?