Man naast een paard c. 1895 - 1898

Here we see a sketch, "Man naast een paard," by George Hendrik Breitner, a Dutch artist active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Breitner was known for his unflinching depictions of urban life in Amsterdam. This sketch offers a glimpse into the artist's process of capturing everyday scenes. The sketch presents a man alongside a horse; this pairing evokes the working-class life that Breitner often depicted. It prompts us to consider the role of labor, class, and the relationship between humans and animals in the rapidly changing urban environment of the time. Breitner himself aimed to capture "the gray, ordinary street," which provides an emotional honesty and reflection on the lives of ordinary people in the face of modernization. In its raw and unfinished state, the sketch reflects the transient nature of urban life and the artist's own search for authenticity amidst societal shifts.