Studieblad, onder andere met voorwerpen en een ruiter 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, "Studieblad, onder andere met voorwerpen en een ruiter", using graphite. Breitner was a Dutch painter, photographer, and printmaker, active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Breitner is known for his depictions of urban life in Amsterdam and this sketch may be preparatory work. The sketch is a quick study of various subjects, including what appears to be a horse and rider. In the 19th century, the ability to ride a horse was closely associated with class status and military service. Breitner himself was conscripted into military service in 1876. Further research into Breitner's personal history, Amsterdam's urban landscape, and the Dutch military can offer additional context. By examining such historical sources, the contingent relationship between art and society becomes clear.