Studieblad met een melkende boer, een dak en een duinlandschap 1880 - 1882

This is a sketch by George Hendrik Breitner, made with graphite on paper. It captures a range of observations from daily life, including a milking farmer, a rooftop, and a simple dune landscape. The quick, unrefined marks of the graphite are especially telling. Graphite allows for a provisional, searching way of working. You can see the artist thinking through his subject, capturing the essence of a scene with a remarkable economy of means. The varying pressure of the pencil creates a range of tones and textures, from the soft shading of the dunes to the sharper lines defining the farmer and roof tiles. Consider the social context here. Breitner was known for his interest in depicting everyday life, particularly the working class in Amsterdam. This sketch offers a glimpse into the rural settings he encountered beyond the city. While it may seem like a casual study, it reflects a conscious choice to engage with the realities of labor and the lived environment. It challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and the depiction of ordinary subjects.