Studie, mogelijk van paardenoren c. 1914s

This is a study of what might be horse ears, made by George Hendrik Breitner in the Netherlands. Can you imagine the artist quickly sketching in charcoal? There's so much space on the page, and then just these two little ears, perked up. It reminds me of the kind of quick studies Degas made of dancers – they have the same kind of energy. You can really sense the movement in those few short marks. I really get the feeling that Breitner was interested in a certain gesture or attitude. What can be captured in an instant? Just by looking at this, I can imagine the horse flicking their ears, listening intently. It’s about being in tune with your subject, in an almost empathetic way. The artist leaves so much empty space around the ears, so the whole page is full of potential, the possibility for more.