Figuurstudie 1881 - 1883

George Hendrik Breitner made this charcoal sketch of a figure, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Breitner was a key figure in the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, known for his gritty depictions of urban life. His art often captured the atmosphere of the city's working-class neighborhoods, a theme influenced by social realism. This sketch, housed in the Rijksmuseum, might seem simple, but Breitner’s quick, expressive lines reflect the changing social landscape of the Netherlands at the time. The rise of industrialization and urbanization brought new challenges, and artists like Breitner sought to capture the realities of modern life. To fully understand Breitner's work, we need to examine the social and economic context in which he worked, looking at photography and developments in popular illustration. This sketch is one of the first steps into understanding the bigger picture.