Drie vrouwen in de regen 1886 - 1898

This is George Hendrik Breitner’s sketch, ‘Three Women in the Rain’, drawn with pencil on paper. Breitner was a Dutch painter working at the end of the 19th century, and his work offers a view into the rapid social changes of the period. He was part of a generation that saw the rise of photography and the illustrated press, and his work reflects these changes. In this sketch, we see three figures, probably working-class women, braving the rain. It's a quickly drawn, intimate scene from modern urban life, capturing a fleeting moment. Breitner was associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, and sought to represent everyday life in the city. The Rijksmuseum can provide access to archives of letters, sketches, and other works which can help us understand the place of this artwork within a wider culture of institutions, artists, and public life.