Paard en een perspectiefstudie c. 1889 - 1904

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing, "Paard en een perspectiefstudie," with graphite on paper. It appears almost ephemeral. The visible marks left by the graphite capture the immediacy of the artist’s hand. What's particularly fascinating is the apparent speed of the work, its seemingly effortless creation, which belies the skill required to capture the essence of a horse and a perspective study with such minimal means. The paper itself, with its slight texture, adds another layer of nuance. Breitner was deeply engaged with the working-class life of Amsterdam. It is remarkable how he has intertwined academic exercises with observations drawn from his own lived experience of the city. This challenges traditional distinctions between the high art of perspective studies, and the everyday life of the working class.