Studie, mogelijk van een vrouw met kind 1884 - 1886

This sketch of a woman and child was made by George Hendrik Breitner, probably in Amsterdam using charcoal on paper. Considered through the lens of materials and process, the softness of charcoal lends itself to the quick, impressionistic style seen here. The artist's hand moved rapidly across the page, capturing a fleeting moment of everyday life, with broad strokes of charcoal creating depth and shadow. The very act of drawing, especially in a portable sketchbook like this, speaks to the changing social conditions of the late 19th century. The rise of urban life demanded new ways of seeing, and the artist became a kind of observer, quickly recording impressions of the world around them. This work shows the artist capturing a slice of life, a mother with her child, freezing it in time. By focusing on the materials, processes, and social context of this drawing, we move beyond traditional art history and recognize the value of craft, design, and materiality in understanding the full meaning of the artwork.