Twee paarden c. 1885

George Hendrik Breitner created "Two Horses" using black chalk on paper. At first glance, the composition seems almost chaotic, with a dense network of lines that vie for dominance across the small page. Yet, within this flurry of marks, there is a discernible structure of two horses, their forms emerging from the abstract. Breitner masterfully employs line to create a sense of depth and movement, inviting us to decode his suggestive depiction of these animals. The texture of the chalk against the paper creates a visual tension, a kind of visual code that we, as viewers, are challenged to decipher. This tension between representation and abstraction destabilizes our understanding of the artwork. The drawing prompts us to question the very nature of seeing and interpreting. It reflects the modernist concern with subjective perception and the challenge to traditional artistic conventions. Is it not a commentary on how we engage with the world, piecing together fragmented information to form a coherent image?