Studieblad c. 1886 - 1890

George Hendrik Breitner created this drawing, Studieblad, using graphite on paper. The pale graphite lines are used to capture the subtle details of the cat’s form. The composition is sparse, dominated by the curving and angular lines that represent the cat. Breitner’s drawing captures the cat's fluid form with an economy of line that is remarkable. Note how each stroke seems both tentative and confident, tracing the contours of the animal. The negative space around the cat is as important as the drawn lines; it gives shape to the form. We might consider how this work reflects a shift towards modernism, where the essence of a subject is captured with minimal detail. Observe again the delicate balance between presence and absence, line and space, which invites us to engage with the drawing. The sketch doesn't just represent a cat, it embodies a dynamic interplay of form and suggestion.