Figuurstudies 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing with graphite on paper, at an unknown date. It’s titled Figuurstudies, or Figure Studies. Breitner was deeply engaged with representing working-class people in the Netherlands. His work reveals the influence of the French Realist painters like Courbet and Daumier. Unlike earlier Dutch masters who focused on scenes of domestic life and commerce, Breitner turned his eye to the streets and the lives of ordinary people. Here, we see a series of rapidly sketched figures. It's likely that Breitner made these studies while observing people in public spaces. The sketches allowed him to capture fleeting moments and gestures. This kind of preparatory work was essential for Breitner as he sought to portray modern life as truthfully as possible. It gave an unvarnished glimpse into the social realities of his time. By studying the artist's notebooks and letters, we can learn more about the social and artistic networks Breitner inhabited. This helps us to understand his unique vision.