Zittende vrouw in een interieur c. 1900 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing of a seated woman in an interior with graphite, and it's all about immediacy and process. You can really see the hand moving here, thinking on the page, trying to capture a fleeting moment. The texture of the paper is visible beneath the quick, expressive marks. The graphite is applied with varying pressure, creating a range of tones from light grey to almost black. It's cool how he uses these darks to define the figure's form and the shadows around her. Notice the lines describing the chair. The way they intersect and overlap gives a sense of depth and volume, even though it's just a sketch. The marks around her create a sense of atmosphere; I can almost feel the quiet of the room. Breitner's work reminds me of Edgar Degas, with that interest in capturing everyday life with a sense of intimacy. But Breitner has this raw, direct approach that's all his own. It's less about perfection and more about the messy, beautiful act of seeing.