Figuren, waarschijnlijk in de Nieuwe Teertuinen te Amsterdam c. 1909

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of figures, probably in the Nieuwe Teertuinen in Amsterdam, using graphite on paper. Graphite, a humble material, grants the artist the ability to capture the essence of a scene with quick, expressive strokes. The softness of the graphite allows for a range of tones, from light, suggestive lines to dense, shadowed areas. The figures are not meticulously rendered, but rather implied through a flurry of marks. You can almost feel the artist working rapidly, trying to capture a fleeting moment of everyday life. This approach speaks to the changing social landscape of the late 19th century, with a focus on capturing contemporary life in urban settings. Breitner isn't interested in idealizing or monumentalizing his subjects, but in presenting them as they are, in the midst of their daily routines. By embracing the immediacy of the drawing process and the unpretentious nature of graphite, Breitner elevates the ordinary and invites us to find beauty in the everyday. This piece reminds us that art doesn't always require elaborate materials or techniques, but can be found in the simplest of forms and materials.