Studie c. 1900 - 1923

This small study was made by George Hendrik Breitner, probably in a sketchbook, using graphite or charcoal. I love these little drawings, because they tell you so much about an artist's process. Breitner's mark-making here is so economical. He gets right to the point and then stops. The texture of the paper plays a big role, because the drawing is so minimal. There's a sort of halo around the figure as if the artist has rubbed or erased the graphite to create a sense of light. It reminds me of some of Degas' monotypes, where he would wipe away ink to create these ghostly figures. Maybe it’s a face or a dancer. It’s also just as simple, a scribble. But its location on the page makes the viewer wonder. And in the end, that’s the great thing about drawing; it invites us into an artist’s way of seeing.