Annotaties c. 1890 - 1900

Curator: What a curious glimpse into a private world! Here we have George Hendrik Breitner's "Annotaties," dating from around 1890 to 1900, held here at the Rijksmuseum. It's a drawing made with graphite, pencil, and watercolor on paper. Editor: My first impression is...intimacy. It feels almost like eavesdropping on the artist's own thoughts, a secret language spilled onto the page. Is it me, or does it feel strangely fragile? Curator: Absolutely. The impressionistic style, even in these mere notes, transmits a remarkable immediacy. These personal sketchbooks often become time capsules, preserving not only the artist’s hand, but a sense of their era, its anxieties, its particular way of seeing. Think about the linear, ruled format of the page itself. It’s such a common artifact that bears meaning itself; in many cultures, lineation symbolizes rational structure, organizing systems. Breitner rebels against that control with energetic annotations. Editor: The annotations… they look almost mathematical, perhaps a jumble of financial records? Or maybe a system of measurements for his next artwork? And the medium contributes to that intimacy—you can feel the delicate scratching of the pencil. It has that ‘first draft’ feeling. There’s even an unburdening rawness here. What I think that it all means, and more importantly what I feel as a result of looking at it, well, that’s an intensely private reaction too. I feel connected with him across centuries of separation. Curator: Breitner’s works often capture everyday life with a unique sensitivity, so it's plausible that these 'Annotations' could include observations and sketches of city life, combined with notes of everyday life or expenses. What may at first glance seem unstructured, actually communicates, with a profound sincerity, that there are orders that coexist, in plain sight, within even everyday existence. Editor: That’s a fine way to put it! So, it all just really highlights for me, the magic that happens in the everyday stuff. I reckon there is beauty everywhere, and Breitner obviously did, too. He picked up something others walked right past. Curator: Indeed. "Annotaties" offers a valuable peek into an artist's creative, personal process, prompting reflection on one’s own way of navigating daily reality. Editor: It is more than just notes—it's like witnessing a mind in action. Gives me courage to dive headfirst into my next art project. Thanks, George!