Figuurstudies 1884 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of figures in the Netherlands in the late 19th or early 20th century. It gives us a glimpse into his artistic process and the urban environment he sought to capture. The figures, likely city dwellers, are depicted wearing hats. These details, along with their posture, give us information about the social codes of the time. The sketch is casual, perhaps made quickly in a public space. It invites us to imagine the hustle and bustle of the city streets. Breitner was associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, a group of artists reacting against the traditional art academies and embracing modern subjects. They were interested in the gritty realities of urban life, not traditionally seen as appropriate for art. To understand this work more fully, one could explore archives of photography or newspapers. This helps contextualize the social landscape in which Breitner was working. The meaning of art shifts according to its cultural and institutional surrounding.