Benen van een paard 1867 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing of horse legs using graphite. Breitner was a flâneur of sorts, capturing the changing face of Amsterdam at the turn of the 20th century. Horses were a common sight in the city, yet Breitner’s choice to focus on their legs is intriguing. Rather than romanticizing the animal, he isolates these working parts, essential for transport and labor. You can see the strain and power in the muscular definition of the legs. This hints at the physical demands placed on these animals. Breitner was interested in portraying the realities of urban life. In its focus on the mundane, he disrupts traditional representations, inviting us to consider the lives of working animals in a rapidly industrializing world. The drawing captures a moment in time, inviting reflection on the relationship between humans, animals, and the changing urban landscape.