Soldaat te paard 1887 - 1891

This sketch of a soldier on horseback was created by George Hendrik Breitner, a Dutch artist known for his depictions of urban life in Amsterdam. Breitner lived in a time of rapid social and political change, a period marked by growing industrialization and urbanization. Breitner, also known as the 'painter of the grey city,' had a keen interest in capturing the everyday life of ordinary people. The themes in his works, like this sketch, often include working-class individuals and their struggles with poverty. The anonymity of the soldier suggests a commentary on the role of the individual within the larger military apparatus. It acknowledges their service while hinting at the loss of personal identity. Consider how Breitner uses loose lines to suggest movement and transience. This creates a sense of immediacy, inviting us to contemplate the fleeting moments of human experience. In Breitner's work, we find both a reflection of and a resistance to the prevailing social norms, captured in a simple sketch.