Ruiter 1907

This is a sketch by George Hendrik Breitner, likely done in pencil on paper. It’s all about capturing a moment, a quick impression of a rider. Look at how the lines are laid down – not precious, but direct and economical. For me, this piece really speaks to the artmaking process. There’s a rawness to the surface, with all these visible calculations. The artist isn’t trying to hide anything. The materiality of the piece is fascinating. Those thin lines, almost like whispers, create the form of the horse and rider. There’s a looping line on the left, it brings a sense of motion and incompleteness, giving the drawing a real sense of being a moment captured in time. This reminds me of sketches by Degas. Both capture movement and the immediacy of life, and remind us that art is an ongoing conversation across time. The beauty is not in perfection, but in that openness and ambiguity.