Paarden 1884 - 1886

Editor: This charcoal drawing, called "Paarden," or "Horses" in English, was created by George Hendrik Breitner sometime between 1884 and 1886. I'm struck by its rough, almost hurried quality. What stands out to you? Curator: Well, look at the marks Breitner made. Charcoal wasn't just a tool for him; it was a means to rapidly capture the industrial landscape shaping Amsterdam at the time. How does the roughness, the seemingly unfinished nature of the piece, reflect that broader societal shift towards industrial production? Editor: That’s a good point. It definitely feels like a quick sketch, something raw and immediate. So you are saying the quick sketch is linked to industry... How so? Curator: Precisely. The accessibility and ease of use of charcoal facilitated a new way of seeing. It enabled Breitner to capture fleeting moments and gritty realities, breaking away from academic conventions and the established art market’s demand for polished, finished works. Does this immediacy alter your understanding of the "landscape" style it’s tagged with? Editor: It does. I initially thought of landscapes as serene nature scenes, but this feels different, almost like an industrial landscape study. The charcoal gives a very different feel, much more rough and ready than say oils. It really brings out the social realism angle. I suppose that makes sense. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! Thinking about the materials and techniques can reveal so much about the artist’s intent and the context they were working in. Hopefully, this deeper connection with the materials enables a new understanding. Editor: I definitely have a greater sense of how Breitner captured a changing world using humble materials!