Twee boten 1884 - 1886

This is a preliminary pencil sketch of two boats by Dutch artist George Hendrik Breitner. It is known as a "Twee boten" (Two boats) and was made around 1884-1886. The quick lines depict the two vessels and their surroundings in a loose and gestural style. The work is indicative of Breitner's interest in capturing the dynamism of everyday scenes and the energy of urban life, and his tendency to use sketching as a way to explore composition and form. This drawing, now in the Rijksmuseum, is part of a larger collection of sketches that demonstrate Breitner's evolving artistic process.