Figuren bij een stoomketel in de Haarlemmer Houtttuinen te Amsterdam c. 1892 - 1923

This charcoal drawing of figures by a steam boiler was made by George Hendrik Breitner, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. I really get a sense of process here, don't you? The artist feels like he's thinking through making, right in front of us. Look at the way the charcoal smudges, like he's using his fingers to push it around. I do that too! It's a direct way to engage with the material, getting your hands dirty. The marks are raw, almost clumsy, but that's what gives it its energy. See how the lines are so thick and dark in some places, then fade out to these ghostly greys? It’s a fleeting impression, like trying to catch a memory before it fades. It reminds me of some of Degas’s monotypes, where he was also playing with these in-between states. Art’s just an ongoing conversation, after all. Breitner isn't trying to give us all the answers, he's inviting us to participate in the looking, the questioning.