Kat en een portret van een onbekende vrouw c. 1886 - 1903

George Hendrik Breitner, known for his depictions of Amsterdam and its working class, sketched "Cat and a Portrait of an Unknown Woman" with a quick, intimate hand. Breitner was a flâneur, a stroller of the city, capturing everyday life with a focus on realism. The unfinished nature of this sketch gives us a glimpse into his process. The woman, rendered with sensitivity, looks out with what seems like a direct gaze. Yet, her identity remains unknown, reflective of the many unacknowledged figures who comprise the social fabric of a city. Breitner's work often sought to elevate the mundane and find beauty in the ordinary. Notice the cat, a familiar companion, subtly included, perhaps symbolizing domesticity or a sense of comfort. The sketch invites contemplation on the lives of ordinary women and the role of unnoticed people within the grand narrative of urban life.