Annotatie 1896

This is an annotated page from a sketchbook by George Hendrik Breitner, who died in Amsterdam in 1923. Although this is a relatively minor piece, it speaks to the artist's practice, and the way that the institutions of art have historically shaped the production of art. Breitner was a Dutch impressionist, known for his paintings of urban life in Amsterdam. He was trained at the Rijksakademie, and became part of the art circle that included Vincent van Gogh. Breitner’s work was concerned with the depiction of the working class, and he used photography to capture the city’s atmosphere. It is in that sense that this annotation gives us insight into his practice. Art historians rely on sketchbooks, photographs, letters, and other primary source documents to understand the artist's process and the social context in which they worked. By studying these resources, we can better understand the artist's intentions.