Krabbel 1867 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner sketched "Krabbel" with a pencil on paper, an image that hints at the ebb and flow of human presence. Here, we observe figures sketched with minimal detail, yet they evoke a sense of bustling, anonymous crowds. The faceless figures remind me of ancient Greek theatre masks, where anonymity allows the audience to project their emotions onto the characters. This motif reappears throughout history, from Daumier's caricatures of Parisian life to the blurred figures in Gerhard Richter's photographs, each reflecting the alienation and anonymity of modern life. The lack of individual identity speaks to a deeper psychological truth, reflecting our subconscious fear of being lost in the crowd, a concern deeply embedded in our collective memory. The cyclical progression of facelessness reflects our enduring struggle to find individuality within the masses.