Studieblad met koeien, een vogel en een hoofd 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner created this sketch of cows, a bird, and a head, sometime before 1923. The quick strokes and studies of everyday life that we see here, are typical of the artistic movements happening in the Netherlands at the time. We can see how the changing social norms of the late 19th century influenced Dutch art through the lens of "realism." Breitner and his contemporaries, such as the impressionist Isaac Israels, moved away from traditional academic painting and toward scenes of urban life. The art institutions of the time helped to validate this shift in subject matter. Breitner was a member of the Hollandsche Teekenmaatschappij, an organization that encouraged artists to depict ordinary life. By focusing on ordinary people and places, Breitner and other Dutch artists reflected a broader interest in social and political issues. We see how they moved away from traditional subjects and looked at the world around them with a critical eye. Historians look to sources like exhibition reviews, artists' letters, and the records of art societies to trace these contextual clues and develop a richer understanding of the past.