Annotaties 1896 - 1914

This sheet of annotations was created by George Hendrik Breitner, but we don’t know exactly when. The handwritten notes are layered on a pale, barely-there background, giving the impression of thoughts captured in mid-air. I wonder what Breitner was thinking when he made this. Maybe it was a moment of reflection, a pause amidst the bustling energy of daily life. The penmanship feels personal, intimate, like a glimpse into the artist’s stream of consciousness. The choice of such faint paper makes the work feel almost ephemeral, as if these thoughts are as fleeting as a dream. It reminds me of some of Cy Twombly’s sketchbooks, where words and marks blur the line between writing and drawing. Like Twombly, Breitner seems to be in search of something, a feeling or idea that is just beyond reach. Ultimately, this annotation is a reminder that art isn't just about the final product, but about the messy, beautiful, and deeply human process of creation.