Zittende vrouw, mogelijk een dienstmeid c. 1895 - 1898

George Hendrik Breitner sketched this drawing, "Zittende vrouw, mogelijk een dienstmeid," whose date is unknown, using pen on paper. The composition, spare and direct, immediately strikes us with its raw energy. Lines, quickly and confidently rendered, define the sitter with an economy that speaks to the artist's mastery. Breitner's choice of medium and technique invites a consideration of temporality and process. The sketch is not merely a representation but an event, a trace of the artist's fleeting encounter with his subject. The incomplete rendering and visible structural lines destabilize any fixed meaning. The sketch functions as a sign, pointing not just to a woman, but to a network of cultural codes regarding labor, class, and representation in the late 19th century. Ultimately, the power of this drawing resides in its formal honesty, challenging us to see beyond surface representation and engage with the complex interplay of art, perception, and social context.