Been 1893 - 1894

Curator: Looking at this small drawing by George Hendrik Breitner, simply titled "Been," or "Leg" in English, dating back to between 1893 and 1894, one immediately appreciates its unassuming quality. It's a quick pencil sketch on paper. Editor: It feels intimate, doesn't it? Like a snatched glimpse of someone caught unawares. There’s a real vulnerability to it, despite the sparse lines. Almost… melancholic? Curator: That feeling isn’t misplaced. Breitner, while associated with Impressionism, often portrayed the working classes of Amsterdam with a stark realism. The image of the reclining figure reminds us of symbols of leisure, luxury, and perhaps social inequalities within rapidly changing urban environments of the late 19th century. Editor: Interesting that you frame it that way. I immediately went to a quieter, more personal space. I see that pose often—legs up for relief. And to capture it in just a few strokes... it feels effortless but profound. Did Breitner leave us any written record about the sitter and what was his intent? Curator: As a sketch it does give us access into Breitner's process. These aren't studies for grand oil paintings but, raw, unfiltered observations that speak to a fascination with fleeting moments. So perhaps the lack of finish, the lines trailing off, contributes to the work's evocative character? Editor: Absolutely. And it almost doesn't matter who this person is or was—there’s an every-person quality now. Someone, somewhere, is resting their legs just like that. I really love the lack of pretension here. Curator: Indeed. These sketches remind us that not every artwork needs to shout. Sometimes, the most profound observations are the quietest. Editor: True. It leaves me thinking about the stories these simple lines suggest, both about the past and our own present. Thank you!