Hoofd en nek van een paard 1867 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this study of a horse's head and neck with chalk and charcoal on paper. Breitner worked in the Netherlands at the end of the 19th century, at a time when the country was urbanizing rapidly. As the Dutch landscape changed, so did the role of animals in the lives of everyday people. Breitner became famous for his depictions of working-class life in Amsterdam, but his studies of horses are perhaps less well known. Horses, of course, had long been associated with wealth and military might. But in Amsterdam, they were also used to pull the trams, carry goods, and transport people. Breitner was interested in capturing the energy of the modern city. His choice of subject matter reflects this, documenting the presence of animals in the urban landscape. Art historians consult archives, letters, and other documents to better understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production. This helps us understand the meaning of Breitner’s art in its full social and institutional context.