Figuur, mogelijk bij een schip 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner created this sketch, "Figuur, mogelijk bij een schip," using graphite on paper. The composition is divided into two distinct zones, each offering a different visual experience. The left side is an open, airy space with faint lines that suggest a sense of distance and atmosphere. On the right, we see a dense network of lines forming a figure, possibly near a ship, with a figure standing on deck. The sketch displays a contrast between open space and concentrated form. The lines feel exploratory, almost like a mental mapping of space and form. Breitner seems less interested in precise representation and more in capturing the essence of a fleeting moment. The visual tension between the defined and undefined invites us to contemplate the act of seeing and the subjectivity inherent in perception. This work serves as a reminder that art is not about mirroring reality but engaging with its underlying structures.