Cavaleriegevecht 1867 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing, Cavaleriegevecht, using graphite on paper. It’s a simple pairing of materials, but think about the context in which it was made. Graphite pencils became widely available in the 19th century due to industrial production. Breitner and other artists used this affordable material for sketching and preliminary studies. The immediacy of graphite allowed Breitner to capture the energy of a cavalry battle. See how the loose lines convey the movement of the horses and soldiers? The drawing itself is not highly finished, but it gives us insight into Breitner's process. He was interested in modern life, and this sketch may have been a study for a larger painting. Consider the amount of labor that would have been involved in a finished artwork. The drawing stands apart by showing us the artist's initial vision and working process, something quick and accessible that everyone could do with a piece of paper and a pencil. It blurs the lines between fine art and everyday creativity.