Landschap met bomen 1881 - 1883

Editor: So, here we have Breitner's "Landschap met bomen," a pencil drawing on paper from around 1881-1883. The quick strokes and smudges give it a feeling of fleeting observation, like he just captured a quick impression of the landscape. What do you see in it? Curator: I see Breitner wrestling with light and form, almost a tangible feeling of the wind rustling through the trees. The roughness isn't a lack of skill; it's a conscious choice, a way of prioritizing feeling over meticulous detail. It's almost like catching a fragment of a dream, isn’t it? The way our minds hold onto fleeting impressions. What do you think Breitner was trying to grasp? Editor: Maybe the sheer, overwhelming chaos of nature? It doesn't seem curated or picturesque like some landscapes of the time. More immediate and raw. Curator: Exactly! He's not selling us a postcard-perfect vista. It’s more about the experience, the grit under your fingernails, the slightly disorienting feeling of being surrounded by the wild. It’s impressionism not just in style, but in essence. I find myself wondering, when did sketches begin to be seen as stand alone works? What are the different lenses to appreciate such artworks? Editor: I never thought of sketches like this before. I always thought they were just preliminary. But now I see it can be about so much more! Curator: And that "more" is the magic, isn’t it? Seeing the world anew through the artist's quick, questioning eye. Art like this invites us to slow down and actually look, feel, and maybe even smell the landscape.