Figuurstudies en een paard-en-wagen 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner created this drawing of figures and a horse-drawn carriage in the late 19th or early 20th century. It’s made using graphite on paper, humble materials that allow for spontaneity and immediacy. The texture of the paper catches the graphite, creating a range of grey tones with each stroke. The artist captured the fleeting movements of everyday life in Amsterdam using quick, gestural lines. Breitner was known for documenting the city's working class, and in this sketch, we see his interest in the daily lives of ordinary people. The sketch might seem effortless, but it reflects Breitner's skilled hand and his engagement with Realism, a movement focused on portraying the world as it is. By choosing commonplace subjects and using accessible materials, Breitner blurred the lines between fine art and everyday observation. This work reminds us that art can be found in the simplest of materials and the most ordinary moments.