Hussars on Maneuver c. 1880 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this small oil sketch, Hussars on Maneuver, on panel. He's used a limited colour palette, lots of ochres, browns and blues, that create a sense of light and movement. It's almost like he’s captured a fleeting moment. There is a fluidity and speed to the brushwork, with the figures and horses rendered in quick, confident strokes. Up close, you can see the texture of the paint, thick in some areas, thin in others, giving the piece a real physicality. Look at the way he's suggested the horses' legs - just a few flicks of the brush, but they convey so much about movement and energy. The foreground is a tangle of greens and browns, almost abstract in its application, yet it grounds the figures. Breitner was known for his depictions of everyday life in Amsterdam, and there is a similar immediacy and sense of observation here. I think you can see the influence of Impressionism in the broken brushwork and emphasis on capturing a moment in time, but also something very personal and distinctive in Breitner’s touch.