Figuurstudies c. 1885 - 1898

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing, Figuurstudies, with a pencil on paper. Breitner lived through a time of significant social and political change. The industrial revolution had transformed urban landscapes, leading to new class structures and social inequalities. Breitner's work often focused on the lives of ordinary people, particularly those on the margins of society. In this drawing, he seems to capture fleeting moments of human existence, offering a glimpse into the lives of women in Amsterdam. He had a strong interest in representing the realities of urban life, moving away from romanticized portrayals. Breitner's drawings can be seen as part of a broader artistic movement that sought to depict the world as it was. The raw, unidealized depiction invites us to reflect on our own relationship to the world around us, and on the ways in which art can help us to see and understand it more fully.