Twee figuren bij een paard-en-wagen 1896 - 1897

This sketch of figures by a horse-drawn carriage was made by George Hendrik Breitner, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. Breitner was a prominent figure in the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, which focused on capturing everyday life in the rapidly changing city. In this sketch, we see the fleeting moment of urban life, a scene he witnessed in the streets of Amsterdam. Breitner was interested in depicting the city as it was experienced by its inhabitants, a vision of a modern, dynamic, and sometimes gritty urban environment. The sketch is an exercise of depicting the city's different social classes interacting with new technologies such as horse-drawn carriages. To fully understand Breitner's work, historians look at sources like photographs, newspapers, and social surveys from the time. By looking at the art in its social and institutional context we can understand its engagement with the modern world.