Twee aangespannen paarden 1907 - 1909

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of two harnessed horses with charcoal on paper. Look closely, and you'll see how Breitner is interested in the process of making marks. The hatching shows the shadow under the carriage, but also the pressure of the charcoal stick in his hand. There is a real physicality in the medium. The charcoal is dry and powdery; you can almost feel it crumbling as he draws. See how the thick, dark lines give way to lighter, sketchier ones, as if Breitner is searching for the right form. He’s not trying to hide anything. Everything is right there on the surface. You can see the movement of his hand and the decisions he's making. This area here, with the repeated marks around the horse’s legs, is beautiful. It almost looks like he’s scribbling, but the lines give volume to the horses body and the turn of the carriage wheel. Think of Degas and his drawings of horses and dancers. This piece captures the fleeting moment, the energy of a world in constant motion.