Japanese Actor in a Kimono c. 1884 - 1886
georgehendrikbreitner
light pencil work
quirky sketch
sketch book
personal sketchbook
idea generation sketch
sketchwork
pen-ink sketch
sketchbook drawing
storyboard and sketchbook work
sketchbook art
This is a pencil sketch by Dutch artist George Hendrik Breitner, a prominent figure in the Hague School movement. Created between 1884 and 1886, the work depicts a Japanese actor in a kimono. Breitner's interest in Japanese art and culture is evident in the subject matter, and this work reflects the broader fascination with Japanese aesthetics prevalent in Europe during that period. The sketch's loose and gestural lines capture the essence of the figure, highlighting the artist's focus on capturing movement and form through quick, expressive strokes.
Comments
In this sketchbook Breitner did not draw a contemporary model in Japanese attire, but instead copied a figure from a Japanese woodcut. This is probably a Kabuki actor, the Japanese form of drama in which male actors perform in exuberant costumes. In this sketch Breitner primarily explored the kimono’s construction and folds. The little drawing at the upper right possibly represents the back of the intricate collar.
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