Figuur op een schip c. 1900 - 1901

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, titled "Figure on a Ship," using graphite on paper. It's a quick, economic use of a readily available material, typical of sketches made on the move. What makes this modest drawing interesting is that it captures a moment in the vast, complex system of maritime transportation, a network of labor and industry that has shaped global trade and cultural exchange. Breitner's choice of medium is perfectly aligned with the subject. Graphite, being easily portable, was ideal for capturing such fleeting moments. The marks are light and exploratory, mapping the scene before him. You can almost feel the ship's motion. Breitner, though trained in the academy, often preferred to depict the world around him—especially working-class life. This drawing invites us to consider the labor involved in moving people and goods across water, often overlooked in grander depictions of maritime history. It reminds us that even a simple sketch can be a powerful record of the everyday forces that shape our world.