Man met een fiets op een zandweg c. 1882 - 1912

This sketch of a man with a bicycle on a sandy path was made by George Hendrik Breitner, sometime between 1880 and 1920. Breitner was a Dutch painter known for depicting the bustling life of Amsterdam and here, through just a few strokes of his pencil, he captures something of modern life in the Netherlands. The bicycle was becoming increasingly popular, yet the sandy road suggests more rural areas just outside the city, which were being connected by new transport networks. The loose sketch style reflects a sense of immediacy, characteristic of the Impressionist movement, with its emphasis on capturing fleeting moments and the changing realities of urban and suburban life. As historians, we can dig deeper into understanding the social changes that shaped this era, using sources like period newspapers, photographs, and social surveys. By exploring the institutional context of art, we can better understand its role in reflecting and shaping society.