Studie, mogelijk van figuren op een wagen c. 1886 - 1903

George Hendrik Breitner created this drawing, "Studie, mogelijk van figuren op een wagen," with a pencil on paper, now held at the Rijksmuseum. At first glance, the sketch appears as a series of light, tentative lines forming ambiguous shapes. It's a study, a preliminary exploration of form rather than a finished representation. Breitner’s structural approach is evident in the way he captures the essence of figures and a wagon through minimal strokes. The composition is sparse, focusing on suggestion rather than explicit detail. This aligns with structuralist ideas where the underlying structure is more critical than the surface appearance. The lines create a semiotic system, hinting at forms and movements that require the viewer to complete the image mentally. This challenges the traditional view of art as a mirror of reality, instead framing it as a construction of signs and symbols. The sketch engages with poststructuralist thought, revealing the instability of meaning and the active role of the observer in creating understanding.