Paard 1917

Curator: This is "Paard," or "Horse" by George Hendrik Breitner, a pencil drawing from 1917. It's part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. Editor: My first thought is how fleeting it feels. Like a glimpse caught from the corner of your eye. The lines are so immediate and raw. Curator: Absolutely. Breitner was known for capturing the fleeting moments of everyday life in Amsterdam. What we see is the culmination of years studying movement—drawing was at the core of his creative practice. There is an impressive rawness in his sketch style as an echo of urban life. Editor: I see it. The horse feels very much within the moment. There is also a sense of the animal’s inner nature which emerges. The heavy lines create a feeling of weight, muscle… but then fade away just as quickly, which produces immediacy. Curator: And there are deep resonances when considering horses in Dutch history. Breitner created the piece near the end of the first world war; they stand as emblems of labor and utility, but they become something poignant. Here, they have deep connections to rural and agrarian settings; their visual symbols bring historical memory into the present. Editor: I appreciate your highlighting those social links in his oeuvre. The Dutch collective experience around the animal are worth calling to mind when experiencing it in a museum. Curator: I find Breitner’s technical choices underscore his interest in cultural impressions, even if unintended. He left visible marks of its creation as material culture that are interesting in their own right.. Editor: Agreed. Seeing that process also humanizes the work and adds depth. Ultimately the artist shows a clear ability to turn mere lines on paper into an intimate record of daily life. It really makes you appreciate looking and engaging at different registers. Curator: This piece is certainly food for thought to that end. It makes you appreciate art on a new level.