Studieblad 1887 - 1891

George Hendrik Breitner created this study sheet with graphite on paper. The composition is a fascinating interplay of geometric shapes, rendered with a delicate yet decisive hand. Notice how Breitner uses line to define form, creating a sense of depth and space despite the two-dimensional surface. The cylinder, cone, and cuboid forms are not merely objects, but serve as structural elements in Breitner's exploration of perspective and spatial relationships. The sketch’s formal qualities invite us to consider the underlying semiotic system. The lines, seemingly simple, act as signs pointing to a deeper engagement with the principles of representation. The roughness challenges fixed meanings, it questions how we perceive depth, volume, and form. This approach, with its unfinished quality, reflects the shift towards modernism and the breakdown of traditional artistic conventions. Breitner’s sketch functions aesthetically and as part of a larger cultural discourse that embraces fragmentation.