Schetsboek met 38 bladen 1896 - 1914

Editor: This is "Sketchbook with 38 leaves," created sometime between 1896 and 1914 by George Hendrik Breitner. It's a drawing on paper, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The plainness of the cover is almost jarring. What secrets does this simple sketchbook hold? What can we tell from the cover? Curator: Ah, yes! On the surface, just a modest object. A glimpse into the everyday working life of an artist, don't you think? Consider it: this wasn't meant for show. This was where Breitner wrestled with ideas, a visual playground where he captured fleeting moments, those impressions that grabbed him. A portable universe, crammed with the seeds of grander paintings! Makes you wonder, doesn't it, about the unseen hours an artist puts in, away from the fanfare? Editor: It does. It makes me wonder what kind of artist Breitner was...what those seeds might be? What was he interested in sketching? Curator: Breitner was deeply rooted in Realism, so think bustling cityscapes of Amsterdam, working-class life. And unlike many of his contemporaries who favored pristine depictions, he reveled in grit. I picture him on the go, quickly capturing scenes - a woman hurrying down the street, horses pulling a cart, raw immediacy, straight from life itself! The magic of it, wouldn't you say, lies precisely in the unvarnished truth it conveys. Editor: So, it’s a bit of a rebel sketchbook, capturing everyday grit... Curator: Precisely! A tangible piece of art history capturing the unfiltered soul of city life. What I take from this sketchbook is that sometimes it's in those initial, seemingly mundane scribbles and thoughts, not fully-formed artworks that is most evocative! Editor: I like that - it lets you be closer to the artist's mind! It really makes me appreciate how much thought goes into an artist's craft! Curator: Agreed. Thank you.