Eenden 1883 - 1885

Editor: This is "Eenden," a pencil drawing on paper by George Hendrik Breitner, created sometime between 1883 and 1885. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The sketchiness gives it an immediacy, like a quick observation captured on the fly. What catches your eye in terms of its composition? Curator: The preliminary nature of the drawing is certainly significant. Notice how Breitner uses a very limited range of tonal values. The varying pressure of the pencil creates depth, but also flattens the image, emphasizing the picture plane. How do you interpret the artist's decision to leave much of the paper untouched? Editor: It almost feels like the negative space defines the ducks as much as the pencil lines do. I see how the light pencil work and the negative space helps bring focus to the contour. Curator: Precisely. Consider also the formal relationship between the ducks. Their positioning creates implied lines and vectors. Observe how the angles of their bodies and necks interact, directing the eye through the composition. How does this internal dynamism affect your understanding of the drawing's subject? Editor: The dynamism makes it more than just a study of ducks. There's an energy there, a sense of movement, captured in these sparse lines. What would you say is the most important formal aspect? Curator: The economy of line. Breitner manages to suggest form, movement, and even character with incredible efficiency. The absence of detail invites the viewer to actively participate in the completion of the image. I wonder how Breitner’s careful selection of line weight helps us to perceive the direction and the shape of the ducks? Editor: I hadn’t considered that before, but I agree, the varying line weight truly defines them in three dimensions. Curator: A superb piece! Breitner’s preliminary sketch emphasizes how lines function, thereby offering insights into perception itself. Editor: It’s like he’s not just showing us ducks, but showing us how to see ducks. Thanks for sharing!