Figuren tussen bogen, mogelijk van een arcade 1881 - 1883

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, "Figuren tussen bogen, mogelijk van een arcade," using graphite on paper. Breitner has worked rapidly and economically, using a common material to capture a fleeting impression. We can see the texture of the paper itself. Its weave, together with the artist's application of the graphite, influences the image. The very directness of this method also carries a certain social meaning. In late 19th century urban environments, the artist would use sketches to quickly capture everyday life. This mode of working allowed for an engagement with modern life and the realities of industrial labor. It is as different as can be from the careful, academic painting that preceded it. This sketch reminds us that artmaking is often a gritty, immediate encounter, tied to its time and place.