Studieblad 1898 - 1902

George Hendrik Breitner created this study sheet at an unknown date with pen and ink on paper. Breitner was a Dutch painter and photographer, known for his depictions of urban life in Amsterdam. The image presents a rapid sketch of two swords, drawn on lined paper. The swords, likely props or models in Breitner’s studio, represent a bygone era of military might, a stark contrast to the rapidly modernizing Amsterdam of Breitner’s time. The sketch is direct and unromantic, foregoing the typical heroic depictions of military power. Breitner was interested in social realism and the everyday life, not in idealized representations of power. His art captures the changing social fabric of the Netherlands during a time of industrialization and urbanization. To fully understand Breitner’s work, we need to look at documentary photographs, newspapers and journals from the period. Such sources help us understand the meaning of the artwork as contingent on its social and institutional context.