Figuren en schapen Possibly 1883 - 1885

George Hendrik Breitner created this sketch of figures and sheep with graphite on paper sometime between 1880 and 1920. Breitner was known for capturing the bustling city life of Amsterdam, but here, we see a more pastoral scene, or at least, studies for one. What might this say about the changing role of the artist in the late 19th century? As urban centers grew and industrialized, there was a nostalgic turn toward rural life, often idealized in art and literature. Breitner, while known for his gritty urban scenes, was also a product of this cultural moment. Was he deliberately contrasting the modern city with a more traditional view of the Dutch countryside? To understand Breitner's artistic choices, we might look to the art criticism of the time, exhibition records, and the writings of Breitner himself, all resources that can give us a better sense of the institutions and social conditions that shaped his work.