Twee studies van een paard c. 1886 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this study of a horse with dark charcoal on paper. It’s all about the process, right? Breitner wasn’t trying to make a perfect picture; he was trying to figure something out. He’s got these bold, dark lines that capture the essence of the horse's form. Look how he uses smudging to create depth and volume, but also leaves a lot of space undefined. The charcoal is thick in some spots, almost velvety, and then fades away into these ghost-like marks. I'm really drawn to the way he captures the animal's head. The details aren't precise, but you get the feeling of the mass and the weight of the horse. It reminds me of some of Degas’ studies, where he was also trying to capture movement and form. Like Degas, Breitner seems more interested in the act of seeing than the act of finishing.