Vrouw met een voorwerp onder haar arm 1910

This sketch, by George Hendrik Breitner, uses graphite to capture a figure with an object. The composition centers on the figure, rendered with swift, economical lines, characteristic of Breitner’s approach to capturing fleeting moments of urban life. The linear structure of the drawing, with its emphasis on the contour, creates a sense of immediacy. Breitner is less concerned with volume, and more interested in the relationship of line and form to evoke a sense of movement and presence. Each line is a signifier, pointing not just to the form it delineates but also to the broader context of artistic representation, as well as how we perceive our surroundings. The sketch reflects a shift in artistic values—away from detailed representation towards capturing the essence of a subject. This approach destabilizes the traditional role of art as a mirror, instead engaging with the act of seeing itself, suggesting that art's meaning lies in the dynamic interpretation of form, not merely in its replication.