Studie, mogelijk van een gans Possibly 1883 - 1885

Curator: Breitner's "Studie, mogelijk van een gans," or "Study, possibly of a goose," from the 1880s, gives us a fascinating look into his process. It’s a pencil sketch, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My initial reaction? It's remarkably spare, almost fragile. You can see the artist wrestling with form. It makes me a bit uneasy, yet curious. Curator: Yes, and the use of pencil on paper immediately invites us to consider the materials themselves. It suggests a quick, utilitarian practice, focusing more on efficient rendering rather than precious artistry. Editor: Precisely. Breitner working with such provisional media really places an emphasis on this piece being viewed not only as a rendering of an animal, but it forces us to think more deeply about how marginalized bodies have often been overlooked throughout history and artistic canons. The tentative lines and erasures create an indexical record of a working class existence – the very goose itself struggling, perhaps mirroring its real-world exploitation for labor or consumption. Curator: Indeed. The sketch highlights the labor involved. Each stroke shows intention. This aligns with Breitner’s other works capturing ordinary lives in Amsterdam. We see how labor is involved in every stage – even in a fleeting sketch. There’s labor both in artistic production and the raising and ultimate sacrifice of animals, here signified by what’s implied from the Goose itself. Editor: Also, notice how he frames the goose. It’s almost as if the Goose has its back against a wall. Was this intentional or mere chance? This limited frame reflects broader societal restrictions imposed upon women and people of color during Breitner's time. I appreciate seeing the Goose as a symbol against cultural conformity and oppressive gender roles that Breitner was clearly thinking about. It is not merely about representation, but also about capturing this intersectional feeling in the work. Curator: Your interpretation is spot on! I had focused almost entirely on the artistic construction— the visible labour on the page. But viewing through the lens of societal critique certainly enriches it. It goes from a quick preliminary study to a statement on larger systemic issues and gendered constraints. Editor: Art always has that latent possibility! Examining artworks like this together, through materiality and societal implications, leads to really surprising conversations and, more importantly, furthers understanding about each other.