Ruiter en een kar 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of a horse, rider, and cart, with graphite on paper. It is one of many studies capturing everyday life. The image is built up through loose, tentative lines, rapidly capturing the basic forms of the horse, rider, and cart. The texture of the paper is visible, and the graphite appears dry. The material nature of the drawing supports the sense of immediacy, a snapshot of a fleeting moment. Breitner used the graphic qualities of graphite to create a dynamic composition, full of movement, that reflects the pace of urban life, and evokes the gritty reality of labor. The work feels honest, capturing the essence of the subject matter and hinting at the social context of labor.