Hoofden van paarden en mensen 1881 - 1883

George Hendrik Breitner rendered "Hoofden van paarden en mensen" as a graphite sketch. He was Dutch, living between 1857 and 1923. This is an unassuming example, but no less revealing of its time and place. The paper itself, likely mass-produced, provides a blank ground for the artist's fleeting observations. The graphite, a readily available material, allows for quick and expressive marks. Breitner has captured the likenesses of horses and people in his sketch, with the simplicity of line. The speed and efficiency of the medium speak to the changing pace of modern life, where artists increasingly sought to capture the immediacy of their surroundings. Breitner's choice of humble materials and everyday subjects reflects a broader shift away from traditional academic art, and toward a more democratic and accessible approach to art-making. It reminds us that the value of art lies not only in the finished product, but also in the process and the context in which it is created.