Stadsgezicht met twee aangespannen paarden 1888

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of a city scene with two horses with crayon on paper. This is most likely a study for a larger painting and gives us a glimpse into the working methods of an artist in the late 19th Century. Here, the image creates meaning through its visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. Breitner was working in the Netherlands at a time when artists were beginning to break away from traditional academic styles in favor of more realist or impressionistic approaches. The institutions of art were in flux with new galleries and societies forming to exhibit and promote more avant-garde work. Breitner himself was associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, which sought to capture the fleeting moments of modern life in the rapidly changing city. To better understand the work of Breitner and his contemporaries, we can turn to archival sources such as exhibition catalogs, artists' letters, and critical reviews. By placing the artwork within its social and institutional context, we gain a deeper appreciation for its meaning and significance.