Paarden 1893

George Hendrik Breitner sketched 'Paarden' using charcoal, capturing an evocative scene with a focus on form. The composition feels like a fleeting glimpse, rendered with swift, dark strokes. The immediacy of the charcoal lends a raw quality, emphasizing line and shape over detail. Breitner's focus is not on precise representation but rather on the energy and structural essence of the horses. The sketch destabilizes traditional notions of finish and completeness, inviting us to consider the power of suggestion in art. Notice the structural interplay between the dense, almost chaotic lines forming the horses and the bare paper that defines the surrounding space. This contrast highlights Breitner's skill in using minimal means to convey a sense of movement and presence, turning a simple sketch into a study of dynamic form.