Landschap met struiken c. 1884

George Hendrik Breitner created this landscape with shrubs using graphite on paper. Breitner, living from 1857 to 1923, came of age as the Netherlands contended with its colonial legacy, industrialization, and shifting social structures. His involvement in the art group "Hollandse Impressionisten" placed him amidst debates about national identity and artistic expression. Breitner sought to capture fleeting moments of daily life, influenced by the rapid urbanization of Amsterdam and the changing roles of its inhabitants. In this sketch, the shrubs are not merely objects; they're witnesses to the transformations happening in the landscape and society. Breitner’s rough strokes may reflect his sensitivity to the emotional and social undercurrents of his time. His art was not just representation, but an engagement with the realities of a changing world. His landscape, rendered in monochrome, evokes the quiet, introspective moments that exist even amidst great change. The image invites us to contemplate the interplay between nature, identity, and the rapid transformations of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.