Paard naast een wagen 1886 - 1903

This sketch of a horse next to a wagon was made by George Hendrik Breitner, sometime before 1923. Breitner was a Dutch painter known for his images of urban life in Amsterdam during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The sketch provides an intimate glimpse into Breitner’s artistic process; the rough lines capture a fleeting moment from the city. Consider the horse, traditionally a symbol of labor and transport, and the wagon, both integral to the economy of the time. During this period, the Netherlands was undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization. Breitner was interested in depicting the lives of ordinary people amidst these changes. Look closely, can you sense the movement and energy of the city? The drawing almost seems to vibrate with the hustle of daily life. It is in these raw, unfiltered moments that Breitner captures the essence of a society in transition.