Twee helmen en een dierstudie c. 1886 - 1890

This sketchbook page, by George Hendrik Breitner, gives us a window into the artist’s working method. Executed in pencil on paper, it presents a quick study of two helmets and an animal, likely a horse. While seemingly simple, the medium of pencil invites a close look. Graphite, the core material, is essentially crystallized carbon, formed under intense pressure. Think of it as a cousin to diamonds, yet here, put to the service of swift, exploratory marks. The artist's hand moves rapidly, capturing fleeting impressions. The loose lines and visible erasures speak to the iterative process of drawing - the labor of seeing and refining. Breitner's choice of this humble medium, combined with his focus on everyday subjects, challenges traditional hierarchies that valued oil painting and grand historical themes. This sketch suggests the artist’s engagement with the world around him.