Figuur in een landschap 1881 - 1883

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, 'Figuur in een landschap', with a graphite pencil on paper. Breitner was working in Amsterdam at a time of rapid urbanization, a modernizing of the city that brought with it stark class divisions. Known for his street scenes, he was interested in representing the lives of ordinary people. This sketch appears to show figures in an outdoor setting, perhaps on the edge of the city. The fleeting nature of the sketch reflects his belief in capturing immediate impressions of the city as it changed. It also reflects the influence of photography, which was increasingly used to document contemporary life. Breitner himself was an avid photographer and used photographs as studies for his paintings. Historians look at sources such as letters and diaries of the artist, as well as publications from the time, to understand the social and cultural context in which the artist was working, and how that is reflected in the art itself.