Figuurstudies 1884 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner sketched these figure studies with a pencil on paper. The bending posture present in one of the figures is striking. It's reminiscent of gestures of supplication or mourning found across cultures and epochs. Consider the Weeping Woman motif, a symbol of grief and lamentation seen in ancient Greek funerary art or Christian depictions of Mary at the cross. This gesture—the body bent, head bowed—echoes through time. It surfaces in diverse contexts, carrying a primal emotional charge. It speaks to our shared experience of sorrow and loss. The bent figure takes on new significance when viewed in the psychoanalytic context. It embodies the subconscious yearning for solace. It represents the vulnerability of the human condition. Breitner’s sketch taps into this collective memory, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The bending figure as a motif has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings.