Studie, abklatsch van een krijttekening 1909

This chalk drawing, by George Hendrik Breitner, is a study – an ‘abklatsch’ - which means it's a kind of print or transfer. It's all about process; a quick way to grab an idea. Look at the texture! The chalk is soft and crumbly, which can be seen through the smudges and light dusting of residue. You can imagine Breitner rubbing the chalk in with his fingers to create the shadow and depth. Check out the shapes! There are two distinct, blocky images that are like ghostly apparitions against the stark paper. What could they be? Some kind of vehicle and a building perhaps? The heavy lines give the drawing a sense of weight, but the hazy texture keeps it open and mysterious. Like a half-formed idea, it holds the potential for many things. Breitner's contemporary, Edgar Degas, used pastels and monotype techniques to achieve similarly ephemeral effects. Both artists embraced the happy accidents that occur in the studio.