Wolkenlucht boven land 1886 - 1923

This little drawing of clouds over land was done by George Hendrik Breitner sometime between 1870 and 1923. It's a quick sketch, really, probably done on location. I can imagine Breitner standing outside, squinting at the sky, trying to capture the ephemeral shapes of the clouds. He's using simple lines, almost like shorthand, to map out the forms. The lines are delicate, tentative, like he's feeling his way through the scene. The whole composition is so open and airy. It reminds me that even a simple sketch can be a way of thinking through seeing, and of feeling, what’s right there in front of you. Painters are always learning from each other across time, picking up on each other's ideas, inspiring new ways of seeing and working.