Studies, mogelijk van kerkonderdelen 1895

George Hendrik Breitner created this drawing, "Studies, mogelijk van kerkonderdelen", with pen in the late 19th or early 20th century. Breitner was a Dutch painter and photographer known for his depictions of urban life in Amsterdam and his association with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement. Breitner lived through a time of rapid social and cultural change, and was particularly interested in capturing the experiences of the working class. Here, his interest seems to have shifted towards architectural structures. Though incomplete, the drawings suggest elements of churches, perhaps studies of details of their design. What emotions do these architectural studies evoke for you? Does the fact that they are incomplete change your understanding of what Breitner was trying to express? The details are not highly polished or refined, and they lack definitive answers. Rather, they evoke a contemplative mood. Through these drawings, we can consider Breitner’s world, which questioned established traditions.