Paard en twee figuren met een kind 1886 - 1923

This drawing, made by George Hendrik Breitner, uses graphite on paper. The quickly sketched lines and minimal details are inherent to the nature of graphite as a medium. Breitner used an ordinary tool for creating art, a pencil, and a common surface, a piece of paper, rather than any esoteric technique or material, to capture a fleeting moment. The choice of materials and rapid execution suggests a focus on immediacy, documenting the world around him with efficiency, as if mirroring the pace of modern life. The labor involved is evident in the artist's hand moving swiftly across the page, capturing the essence of figures and a horse with a raw and honest simplicity. This direct approach democratizes art-making, collapsing boundaries between everyday life and creative expression. By focusing on materials and context, we see how Breitner’s sketch embodies the spirit of his time, challenging the established conventions of fine art.