Achterlijf van een paard en een mannenhoofd c. 1882 - 1912

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of a horse and a man’s head with graphite on paper. Graphite pencils are a readily available tool, allowing for mass production and widespread use, and their marks can be easily erased or altered, offering a sense of freedom and flexibility for artists. The material qualities of graphite – its softness, darkness, and ability to create smooth gradations – influence the artwork's aesthetic. Look closely, and you will see the marks and lines creating a sense of depth, texture, and movement, capturing the essence of the horse and man's head. The sketch appears unfinished. The ease and speed of sketching allowed Breitner to rapidly capture fleeting impressions of modern life, as well as to plan larger works. Ultimately, considering the material and the making of this artwork helps us understand its place in the artist's broader practice, revealing the relationship between preparatory work and finished masterpiece.