Boten op het water 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing of boats on water with pencil on paper, but the exact date remains unknown. This sketch gives us insight into Breitner’s working methods and the artistic culture of the late 19th century. It reflects a time when artists increasingly turned to everyday life for inspiration, capturing fleeting moments and urban scenes. Breitner was known for his interest in the working class and the city of Amsterdam, and while this drawing on its own does not show any of these characteristics, the fact it served as a preliminary work for a painting of the harbour is significant. The sketch is characterized by loose lines and a focus on capturing the basic forms of the boats. The availability of sketchbooks and the increasing emphasis on working 'en plein air' allowed artists to quickly record their observations. Breitner's sketches would have served as reference material to be further developed in the studio. Historians use such drawings, and the notebooks they come from, to understand the creative process behind finished works.