Sleperspaard en arbeiders op een bouwterrein 1897

George Hendrik Breitner created this drawing, "Sleperspaard en arbeiders op een bouwterrein," with graphite. The drawing is defined by its network of lines, which are brisk, immediate and capture a transient moment. The composition, with its emphasis on the foreground and the repetition of vertical forms, draws attention to the material realities of labor and construction. Breitner uses line to convey movement and energy, reflecting the dynamism of the industrializing city. There is an emphasis on immediacy, which suggests the influence of Impressionism. The marks become signs referring to laborers, horses, and the skeletal structures of buildings. These elements capture the essence of urban development and its impact on society. In its formal structure, the drawing challenges academic conventions, embracing a modern aesthetic that values directness and expressiveness. It’s not just a depiction, but a commentary on the changing landscape.