Staande vrouw in een gewaad 1873

George Hendrik Breitner made this pencil drawing, “Standing Woman in a Gown,” sometime between 1880 and 1923. Breitner was a leading figure in the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, known for capturing the city’s everyday life. This drawing might initially strike you as a simple study of a woman in repose, but it actually opens up a complex narrative about cultural exchange and orientalism. During the late 19th century, there was a fascination in Europe with the ‘exotic’ East, and artists often depicted Asian subjects through a Western lens. Here, the woman's gown, adorned with what appear to be Japanese characters, places her within this narrative. Consider the woman's posture—leaning against the wall, eyes downcast. What does it convey? Is it fatigue, melancholy, or something else? And what about the tattoos on her arm? They add a layer of individuality, challenging any simple reading of her as merely an exotic figure. Breitner invites us to contemplate the personal stories behind these representations.