Paardenhoofd en een paard en wagen, mogelijk op de Dam in Amsterdam. c. 1900 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing, Paardenhoofd en een paard en wagen, mogelijk op de Dam in Amsterdam, with pencil on paper. Just by looking at the gestural marks, I can imagine him at the Dam, sketching fast and trying to capture the essence of the horses and carriages in front of him. There is a tension between the precision of the lines that define the horse's head and the roughness of the overall sketch. I wonder if he wanted to convey the energy and movement of the city, or maybe just the fleeting nature of the subject? It reminds me of other sketches I've seen where artists quickly jot down ideas, capturing only what is necessary. The work feels like a conversation with other artists, each building upon the ideas of the last. For me, this drawing is a beautiful example of how art doesn't always need to be perfect or complete to be meaningful. It’s more about the feeling, the moment, and the artist's perspective.