Lezende man, liggend 1885

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing of a reclining man reading, using graphite on paper. The immediacy of the graphite line lends itself to the kind of quick study we see here. The artist has deftly captured a sense of weight and form with very little tonal variation. It's a fleeting impression, and this is also conveyed by the relatively cheap materials used. Graphite and paper were inexpensive and readily available, suitable for a study rather than a finished work. But there's also a social dimension to that choice. The very accessibility of drawing aligns with the democracy of modern life. Just as industrial processes made things attainable for a wide public, so too the simple act of drawing could be taken up by anyone. Breitner seems to be reminding us that art doesn't have to be about precious materials. It can be about the quick, keen observation of everyday life.