Achterlijf van een aangespannen paard c. 1903

This sketch of a horse’s rear was made by George Hendrik Breitner, probably in Amsterdam, using a graphite pencil on paper. Breitner is really letting loose here. You can see the process, the quick, searching lines, almost like he's feeling his way around the form. It reminds us that artmaking is about discovery, not just representation. The drawing is all about the physicality of the medium. Look at the varied line weights, from delicate wisps to bold strokes that define the muscular contours of the horse. Notice the way he uses hatching to suggest shadow and volume. See that one dark line, how it gives real weight to the leg. Breitner was part of a generation of artists who were interested in capturing the gritty reality of urban life, and I find myself wondering if he was influenced by Degas’ drawings of horses. Ultimately, art isn’t about fixed meanings, but about embracing ambiguity.