Annotaties 1912

Curator: What catches your eye first about Breitner's "Annotaties" from 1912, a mix of ink and pencil scribbles on paper, held here at the Rijksmuseum? It's so raw, almost a glimpse into the artist's unfiltered thoughts. Editor: There’s a curious poetry to it, this ordered chaos. The visual rhythm reminds me of ancient palimpsests – layers of text scraped away and written over, carrying whispers from different eras. It’s as though Breitner captured fleeting impressions like moths fluttering near a flame. Curator: Breitner, you know, wasn't one for pretty pictures. He saw the grit, the urban pulse, that relentless energy. Maybe that’s what the “annotations” represent - capturing those snippets before they vanished. Editor: I wonder what purpose these annotations held? Breitner likely bought this booklet in the paper shop of Gebrs. Simons, indicated by their advertisement, with a branch in the Heiligenweg. It offers not a mere listing of numbers, but perhaps a cryptic symbolic key for Breitner; the symbolic dimensions of his subjects are never exhausted. It speaks to an almost desperate need to catalogue experience itself, doesn’t it? Curator: Desperate? Maybe driven. Obsessed with documenting reality. See how he mixes notations with supplier's advertisement of 'Gebrs. Simons.' almost as if it could not get out of his sight and subconscious.. It blurs the line between practical notes and artistic impulse. The composition might feel unsettling because he embraces the unplanned, accidental quality that can feel very alive. Editor: Yes, unplanned… perhaps he bought his art materials here frequently. Look how these notes and advertisements echo in their themes – measurements, weights, and counts – reflecting societal obsession of its time, revealing a fascination with numerical value permeating everyday experience. Like an anxiety about quantification! Curator: Quantification as a mirror reflecting the soul? Interesting... Regardless, looking at this sheet I almost want to steal it and take it home with me to start filling it up again... Breitner would understand. Editor: Breitner and I share a similar affection toward visual data and art making. I will cherish the cultural history held in this image - Breitner, as well as I are kindred.