Studieblad met paarden en figuren 1883 - 1885

Curator: This drawing by George Hendrik Breitner, titled "Studieblad met paarden en figuren," or "Study Sheet with Horses and Figures," dates from between 1883 and 1885. Created using pencil on paper, it now resides at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Immediately, I am struck by how unrefined it is—very raw. It's not just a depiction of horses and people; it feels more like an intimate glimpse into an artist's process. Curator: Precisely. Breitner's mark-making here captures movement and form with such directness, foregoing perfection. This speaks to the wider context of his commitment to realism, where he turned towards documenting modern city life and daily life. Editor: There is also an unmistakable class dynamic that is evident: figures with what looks to be military or work uniforms positioned beneath or subservient to the horses which immediately places the work into historical structures and narratives concerning power. What's fascinating is that while appearing almost fleeting in nature, Breitner nonetheless engages these social issues through visual language alone. Curator: Breitner developed a fascination with the psychological impact of fleeting impressions in this time. One cannot dismiss that Breitner returned frequently to horses and military personnel as a central subject that served as more than mere objective renderings. Their visual recurrence also served deeper internal registers. Editor: Agreed. Also, I find it interesting to examine how Breitner uses the physical support - here paper and pencil. Note how the unfinished character of drawings makes a case for valuing sketches as carriers of cultural and political messaging instead of simple observational studies alone, which I am sure the artist struggled against to achieve autonomy and recognition. Curator: A fair point indeed. Breitner may capture what he observes around him with accuracy while drawing and at the same time is building personal worlds charged emotionally on his paper's surfaces! I now regard the drawing as much more than mere realist depiction; rather it showcases social observations interwoven tightly together across generations via recurring images found within individual psyches Editor: What seemed initially an impulsive sketch really becomes far more meaningful with layered interpretations concerning history and perception interwoven together brilliantly by Breitner through horses that reappear across decades within personal artistic creations... a powerful example, indeed, of his brilliance.