Drie mannen c. 1882

Curator: This is "Drie Mannen," or "Three Men," a drawing made around 1882 by George Hendrik Breitner, held here at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes you immediately about it? Editor: Its fragmented quality is compelling. The tilted orientation combined with the seemingly unfinished state evokes a sense of fleeting observation, a study in capturing a momentary glimpse. Curator: Indeed. It’s a page from one of Breitner's sketchbooks. Breitner was deeply engaged with capturing modern life, and these drawings were often preparatory studies for his larger works. Considering this was sketched around 1882, can you see any hints of industrial developments that influenced daily lives in Amsterdam, that may have shaped his process? Editor: Perhaps the clothing; the practical garments and caps suggest working-class individuals, their clothes indicating specific trades or roles within the expanding urban landscape. He is emphasizing new jobs through the sketches. Curator: Precisely! And think about the materials—pencil and paper, readily available, cheap, and transportable. These allowed Breitner to engage directly with the realities of the city. But, tell me, how do you perceive the balance and structure here? Editor: It's asymmetrical, dynamic even. The layering and varied line weights create a compelling visual rhythm, particularly how he's using the minimal resources to experiment with line and shade to achieve three-dimensionality. This directs our eyes towards the key figures. Curator: He used photography quite a bit in his process; those influences shaped the kind of realism and attention to capturing details that we see in all of his work. It reflects on art making at this time when the lines between mechanical reproduction and artwork begin to be interrogated and challenged. What does this all make you feel? Editor: I am touched by the immediacy, by its humble form. The unpretentious nature invites me to contemplate on everyday narratives of labor in the city at that time. Curator: The sketch is a fascinating record of those urban lives. Editor: Yes, it certainly provokes thoughts regarding the artistic practice behind capturing realism, too.