Annotaties 1881 - 1883

This is an untitled pencil sketch by George Hendrik Breitner, now held at the Rijksmuseum. While the date of the artwork is unknown, Breitner lived between 1857 and 1923, and was working in Amsterdam during a time of rapid social change and urbanization. Looking at the piece, it seems to depict a woman in a loose dress, reclining. Breitner was known for his interest in everyday life, and this sketch gives us insight into his study of the figure. The looseness of the sketch reflects a shift in academic artistic training toward a more immediate, impressionistic style. If you look closely, you can see writing at the side of the sketch, suggesting Breitner was annotating and reflecting on his own work. Understanding the role of academic institutions and the changing social values of the Netherlands is key to understanding Breitner's work. Primary source documents, such as letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews, would help researchers gain insights into the social and institutional context in which Breitner created his art.