Studieblad c. 1886 - 1923

This study sheet was created by George Hendrik Breitner, on paper, likely toward the end of the 19th century. Breitner lived and worked during a time of significant social change in the Netherlands. Urbanization and industrialization were rapidly transforming Dutch society, leading to new social classes and new forms of urban experience. Breitner was known for his images of working-class people and urban landscapes. He moved away from traditional, idealized representations, and instead focused on capturing the realities of modern life. This meant portraying the lives of ordinary people, including the poor, the working class, and the marginalized. "I don't romanticize, I register," Breitner famously stated, reflecting his commitment to depicting the world as he saw it. Breitner's work reflects broader societal issues and anxieties of his time, while showing an emotional and personal engagement with the lives of the people he depicted.