Geit 1883 - 1885

This is a graphite drawing of a goat by George Hendrik Breitner held at the Rijksmuseum. Breitner was a Dutch painter, an important figure in the Amsterdam Impressionism movement of the late 19th century, documenting urban life in Amsterdam, and also known for his interest in photography. This sketch probably comes from his sketchbook and represents a quick study of the animal's posture, anatomy, and features. While seemingly simple, it reflects the artist's broader engagement with representing everyday subjects. In the Netherlands at the time, there was a growing interest in depicting scenes from modern life and this kind of intimate study was becoming more common. To fully understand this drawing, one could consult Breitner's sketchbooks and letters, and the records of the art institutions of the time to discover the relationship between the artist and the market. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.