Studie, mogelijk van een figuur bij een paard 1887 - 1891

This sketch of a figure with a horse was created by George Hendrik Breitner using graphite on paper. While ‘drawing’ may seem like a simple action, its capacity for immediacy can be quite powerful. It is a highly efficient way to capture a fleeting moment or work through an idea. The swift lines here are not just marks on paper; they are traces of the artist's focused observation and the swift movements of his hand. You can almost feel him deciding what details to include and what to leave out, using the graphite to create a sense of depth and form with just a few strokes. Breitner was interested in capturing contemporary urban life, and you can imagine him quickly jotting this down in a sketchbook while observing a scene in the city. This approach elevates the material and the act of sketching from a mere preparatory exercise to a valuable means of capturing everyday life.