Boom 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch using graphite on paper. Though these are conventional materials, the artist used them to explore a thoroughly unconventional subject. Take a look at the massing of dark marks at the center of the page. The artist focused on the textures of these materials, and how their direct application to the page could translate into other tactile experiences. The artist's hand is clear in the work. We can see its immediacy in the confident and energetic lines, reflecting the artist's impression of the modern urban landscape. Breitner did not necessarily set out to make a precious drawing, he instead sought to capture a fleeting impression, a trace of an experience. Paying attention to the materials and the labor involved in the making of an artwork allows us to appreciate its full significance. Here, the simplicity of graphite on paper serves as a reminder that art can be found in the everyday, challenging traditional hierarchies of artistic mediums and subjects.