Vrouw met hoed, op de rug gezien 1893

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of a woman with a hat, seen from the back, using charcoal on paper. It is simple and rapidly executed, which is really the point. The visible grid of the notebook page underscores this sense of immediacy. You can almost see Breitner capturing a fleeting moment, the charcoal stick dancing across the page, barely pausing to define the woman’s form. The texture of the paper itself, rough and absorbent, adds to the sketch's tactile quality. It's a far cry from a finished painting, but that’s precisely what makes it so compelling. This sketch offers an intimate glimpse into the artist’s process, a raw and unedited moment of observation. It reminds us that even the most polished artworks often begin with humble materials and simple acts of making. By focusing on the artistry, we appreciate that every stage of the creative journey is valuable.