Figuur, mogelijk in de Nieuwe Teertuinen c. 1909

This drawing, a figure in what might be Nieuwe Teertuinen, was made by George Hendrik Breitner, using graphite, probably in a sketchbook. It's all about seeing how the artist approached the paper. Breitner’s marks aren’t precious. Look at the scratchy lines. They’re searching, trying to find the form. I’m drawn to the area where the figures are sitting, the repeated loops and scribbles, these capture the human form without really pinning it down, they give the impression of people in movement. The texture of the paper is also important. It’s not smooth; you can see the tooth of it grabbing the graphite. It reminds me of my own studio, where the mess and the process are part of the work itself. I'm reminded of Daumier, another artist who found beauty in the everyday and wasn’t afraid to show the messy side of things. Art isn’t about perfection; it’s about exploration, it’s about being open to the unexpected.