Studie, mogelijk van een bootonderdeel 1880 - 1882

Editor: We're looking at a pencil drawing by George Hendrik Breitner, dating from around 1880, called "Study, possibly of a boat part". It’s really rough and sketchy, almost chaotic. What do you see in this piece, beyond just the apparent subject? Curator: Well, as a historian, I’m interested in how such a seemingly casual sketch reveals the artistic ecosystem of the time. This is Breitner at the Rijksmuseum, working roughly 1880-1882. Who do we think this artwork will be of value too? Who does such sketch work make possible? And for whom? Editor: So, it's less about the boat itself and more about the art world it reflects? Like who the art serves, and enables to make other art? Curator: Exactly. Consider the rising Dutch middle class during this period. Did their increasing social and economic power shape Breitner’s career or approach in any way? Is it fair to presume that is the consumer and audience for the time? Editor: Hmm, maybe this quick study was aimed at pleasing those newly wealthy patrons? A quick image for their amusement? Or a set of sketches they would feel privileged to access, giving them "behind the scenes" looks. Curator: It could be either. Or both! Perhaps even studies towards larger paintings intended for public display. Did Breitner choose subjects or styles with a certain audience in mind, do you think? Are there signs this has "social" goals to affect public views? Editor: It makes me rethink how I view sketches – as social objects and tools of public engagement, rather than just personal explorations. Curator: Precisely. Thinking about the ‘who’ and ‘why’ surrounding the creation and circulation of even a simple sketch can illuminate so much about the art world and society it inhabited.