Studie c. 1903

George Hendrik Breitner made this page of studies, most likely in pencil. It’s like a peek into the artist’s mind, a place where thoughts and sketches blend. The surface is filled with very faint marks and notations, so faint they might be missed. A circle toward the bottom, dissected by a couple of lines, stands out as the most distinct form. It’s like a little sun, or maybe a planet, a small moment of clarity amidst the ether. You know, I think of Cy Twombly. Both artists leave us with the feeling that art isn’t about showing us the finished product, but sharing the messy, beautiful process of trying to figure something out. There’s no right answer, just the ongoing, ever-evolving conversation of art.