Figuurstudies Possibly 1883 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner created this sketch, "Figuurstudies," sometime between 1880 and 1923, using graphite on paper. The human figure—or rather, fragmented glimpses of it—dominates this sketch, a motif laden with historical weight. Consider the reclining pose, reminiscent of classical sculpture. The pose invites us to consider the shifting connotations of the reclining figure, from symbols of leisure and divine ease in ancient art to more complex expressions of vulnerability. The repetition of the figures can be seen across classical art, such as Michelangelo’s studies. The image, which repeats a motif and shows the same scene in slightly different ways, presents a continuous narrative to the viewer, like a scroll. These images, fragmented and repeated, speak to the enduring human fascination with form and the body's capacity to convey emotion across centuries.