Buste van een jonge vrouw 1867 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner created this drawing, "Buste van een jonge vrouw," with graphite on paper. The immediate impression is one of quiet simplicity, achieved through subtle gradations of tone and delicate lines. The young woman's gaze, directed slightly off-center, lends a sense of introspective calm. Breitner's formal approach to portraiture reflects a broader artistic engagement with realism and an interest in capturing the fleeting qualities of modern life. The soft, diffused light and the absence of strong contrasts contribute to a sense of atmospheric transience. The linear precision with which Breitner renders the woman's features, against the looser handling of her clothing, highlights the materiality of the drawing itself. The subtle play of light and shadow, orchestrated with a minimalist palette, invites the viewer into a space of contemplation. Breitner presents the young woman not as an icon but as a figure embedded in the flow of time and the immediacy of experience.