Studieblad met boten c. 1900 - 1901

George Hendrik Breitner made this study of boats with a pencil on paper. Although undated, we can place this work in the context of the late 19th century in the Netherlands. Breitner was known for his depictions of urban life in Amsterdam, often capturing everyday scenes with a gritty realism. In this sketch, the boats aren't romanticized, but rather presented as objects of labor and transport. Given the rapid industrialization and urbanization of the Netherlands at the time, images of working boats such as these reflected a changing society. Breitner’s sketches are part of a broader artistic movement that sought to represent the realities of modern life, including its less picturesque aspects. To understand Breitner's work more fully, one could explore the archives of the Amsterdam Municipal Archives, which hold a wealth of information on the social and economic conditions of the time. The study of art, therefore, becomes a study of history, revealing the complex interplay between art and society.