Staande vrouw 1884 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner sketched this Standing Woman using graphite on paper. At first glance, the drawing seems unfinished, perhaps a fleeting glimpse captured with swift, assured strokes. The composition, though seemingly casual, is a study in lines and angles, with the standing figure rendered through a series of intersecting marks, suggesting form and volume through shadow and light. Breitner does not seek to create a perfect likeness but instead offers an impression of a figure in space, and focuses on how line and form can suggest movement and presence. The sketch captures the essence of the subject through the interplay of lines, reflecting a broader artistic trend of prioritizing the process of seeing and representing over strict representation. This approach challenges fixed notions of what a portrait should be, inviting us to consider how an artist can convey information and emotion with minimal means. This sketch invites ongoing interpretation, a reflection of art's dynamic and evolving nature.