Ruiter en een zittende man 1880 - 1882

This sketch of a ‘Ruiter en een zittende man’ – or ‘Horseman and a seated man’ - is by George Hendrik Breitner and is currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Breitner masterfully utilizes line to capture form and movement. The monochromatic palette focuses our attention on the dynamic interplay of shapes and the raw energy of the figures depicted. Breitner here seems to be challenging traditional notions of representation by favoring an unfinished, sketch-like quality. The open space and the incomplete rendering of forms invite the viewer to participate in the act of seeing. It makes us think about how we perceive and construct reality through fragmented glimpses. What we see here isn't just a sketch, but an exploration of perception, the semiotic function of the line, and a challenge to fixed meanings. It allows for a fluid exchange between the artwork and the observer.