Aangespannen paard, mogelijk op de Dam in Amsterdam 1912 - 1919

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of a harnessed horse, possibly on the Dam Square in Amsterdam, using pencil on paper. It is a rapidly executed sketch that captures the movement and energy of urban life in the Netherlands. During Breitner's time, the Netherlands was undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization. Horses were essential to the economy, so his choice reflects the social conditions of the period, and his focus on the everyday rather than the elevated events of history. Breitner was associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement. To understand this sketch further, archival research into Breitner's personal notes, exhibition catalogues, and critical reviews of his work would be invaluable. Considering the socio-economic context of the Netherlands at the time is also essential. This helps us consider the public role of art and the social conditions that shaped Breitner's artistic production.