Eenden 1883

George Hendrik Breitner captured these 'Eenden,' or Ducks, in a sketch now held at the Rijksmuseum. The composition dances with life, a flurry of charcoal strokes sketching the essence of ducks in motion. Breitner's formal approach is striking. There's a semiotic interplay at work here, where lines don't just depict but also suggest movement, challenging fixed representation. Notice how the texture and shading imply form, without fully defining it. The ducks challenge our perception; Breitner uses a combination of semiotic signs and minimalist form, capturing the essence of these creatures. This sketch becomes more than a study, it's an exploration of how much can be conveyed with so little, inviting endless interpretation.