Kar of kanon in een landschap c. 1885 - 1898

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of a gun carriage in a landscape, but the date of its creation is unknown. Breitner, who lived from 1857 to 1923, was a Dutch painter and photographer, known for his images of working-class life in Amsterdam. This drawing offers a glimpse into the visual language of Breitner, who documented the rapid changes in Dutch society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a contemporary of the impressionists, his art often captured fleeting moments, but with a distinct focus on the gritty realities of urban existence. Though the subject of a gun carriage seems far removed from human concerns, it’s important to remember that warfare disproportionately affects those on the margins of society. How do we reconcile the representation of military equipment with the struggles of daily life? Perhaps, Breitner is urging us to consider the relationship between military power and the lives of ordinary people.