Architectuurstudie, mogelijk een interieur van een schuur of boerderij c. 1883 - 1885

This is George Hendrik Breitner's architectural study, possibly of a barn or farm interior. Breitner, who lived from 1857 to 1923, worked during a time of rapid urbanization and social change in the Netherlands. As a result, Breitner's work often touches on the everyday lives of ordinary people, reflecting a shift towards realism and an interest in the working class. This sketch could provide a glimpse into the rural spaces that were increasingly contrasted against the backdrop of a modernizing society. The gendered division of space and labor inherent in agricultural settings also forms a part of this dialogue. Notice the rough lines and unfinished quality of the sketch. It gives us a sense of immediacy, as if capturing a fleeting moment. Breitner's decision to focus on such an intimate, commonplace scene invites us to find beauty and significance in the unadorned aspects of daily life, in the interior of a simple barn.