Boot 1881 - 1883

This pencil drawing of a boot was made by George Hendrik Breitner, probably near the turn of the 20th century. What could a drawing like this tell us about Dutch society at that time? Breitner was known for his depictions of working-class life in Amsterdam. But he was also part of an artistic culture that valued a sketch like this: a quick impression of a single object. The art academies of the 19th century taught students that careful study and preparatory drawings were essential to the production of great art. But this also reflected a society that placed a high value on hard work. Think of the work involved in making a boot by hand. Think of the different social classes that were brought together through it: the working class making it, and the middle classes buying it. We might consider the social meaning of something as simple as a boot. Looking into the history of Dutch industry, and the art institutions of the time, gives a much better understanding of this drawing.