Studieblad 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner created this sketch, titled "Studieblad," sometime in his career using a pencil on paper. Breitner, living in the Netherlands during a time of significant social change, captured the energy of the working class and the realities of urban life. This sketch gives us a quick, intimate look into his process, and the image blurs the line between the public and private selves of the sitter. Although the sitter is anonymous, the artist emphasizes their physicality. The model's body is presented without idealization, challenging traditional, often gendered, artistic conventions. Breitner seemed to be more concerned with the human form and the essence of his subjects than with adhering to conventional aesthetic standards. The raw and honest approach invites us to consider the lives and experiences of those often overlooked in society. Through the use of seemingly unfinished lines, this sketch echoes the transient nature of life itself.