Studies en annotaties 1910

Here in the Rijksmuseum we can see Breitner's ‘Studies en annotaties’ done with graphite on paper. Look at this page ripped from a sketchbook, filled with scribbled notes and rudimentary sketches. I like to think about his focus as he made these marks, trying to capture some fleeting thoughts and ideas. I wonder, was he trying to nail down a composition, or just jotting down observations? The page is filled with all sorts of things! We see notations, prices and little thumbnail sketches. I wonder if this was a preparatory study for a painting, or something he was working on for himself? Either way, it is a reminder that artists are always in an ongoing conversation, sharing ideas and inspiring each other's creativity across time. For me, these annotations show that uncertainty can allow for multiple interpretations, rather than one fixed reading.