Mansportret, waarschijnlijk een zelfportret c. 1886 - 1903

Here we see a sketch, probably a self-portrait, by George Hendrik Breitner at an unknown date, rendered in pencil on paper. The composition, though seemingly casual, employs a deliberate structure. Breitner captures himself, perhaps in a mirror, with a pipe in his mouth and a hat firmly placed on his head. The loose, energetic lines are not merely descriptive; they are expressive, conveying a sense of immediacy and the artist's direct engagement with his subject. Note how the swift strokes define the contours of his face and the sharp angles of his coat. The composition's asymmetry, with the figure's head tilted and the body extending diagonally, disrupts any conventional sense of balance, presenting a fragmented, almost fleeting impression. Breitner's approach here prefigures later concerns within modernism, challenging fixed perspectives and inviting viewers to actively piece together a coherent image from suggestive fragments. This piece is not just a likeness but an exploration of form, perception, and the very act of representation. The drawing thus encapsulates a moment in the history of art when traditional modes of seeing and portraying the self were being questioned and redefined.