Buffeljacht c. 1871 - 1876

Curator: This drawing, "Buffeljacht," or "Buffalo Hunt," by George Hendrik Breitner, made with pencil around 1871-1876, currently resides here at the Rijksmuseum. What are your initial impressions? Editor: Well, the immediate sensation is one of raw, untamed energy. The frantic lines, the barely-there forms—it’s a snapshot of pure, visceral motion. It reminds me of the Futurist movement, all about speed and dynamism, despite predating it. Curator: Absolutely. We must understand this image through the lens of its historical moment. Breitner, though Dutch, clearly captures something of the colonial narratives unfolding elsewhere, and perhaps of the romance surrounding the notion of the “hunt.” Who are these hunters? Are they exploiting these animals and this landscape? Is he engaging with, or perhaps even critiquing, ideas about dominion and control? Editor: An interesting take! Structurally, the chaos is masterfully arranged. Breitner's use of line directs our eyes in a circular dance of pursuit. The stark whiteness of the paper also acts as a foil, amplifying the frenzy suggested by the darker pencil strokes. Semiotically, we can decode the relationships between the figures—human and animal—through their dynamic poses and directional orientations. Curator: Thinking about identity politics, it would be fascinating to uncover if Breitner consciously acknowledges any particular colonial hunting narratives. He lived and worked in a society complicit in such exploitation. Where do we see the perspectives and voices of colonized people here? Does the artist attempt to depict those at all, or are they completely excluded? Editor: The ambiguity of the figures themselves—almost sketched in as merely suggestions of human forms—could perhaps be seen as a gesture toward broader themes of anonymity and the loss of individuality within such acts of aggressive domination, not just over buffalo. I am also interested in Breitner's technique, creating movement with only pencil strokes. It captures such urgency, which cannot be felt without looking very carefully at his compositional choices. Curator: Indeed. It speaks volumes, both literally and figuratively. This artwork forces us to think about how these narratives of colonial hunting continue to impact social discourse. Thank you for bringing in that vital perspective. Editor: Thank you. It reminds us that art's power is found in the constant dialogue we engage in with it, always questioning, always seeking new ways to engage.