Studie, mogelijk van een landschap 1886 - 1923

This landscape study, possibly from the late 19th or early 20th century, was made by George Hendrik Breitner using graphite on paper. The choice of graphite—a readily available and relatively inexpensive material—speaks to the work's function as a study rather than a finished piece. Notice how the soft, grey quality of the graphite allows for quick, gestural marks. The lines are tentative, searching for form, as if Breitner is thinking through the composition in real-time. This approach contrasts sharply with the labor-intensive practices often associated with high art. While the landscape is only vaguely indicated, the artist's hand is clearly present in the immediacy of the drawing. It reminds us that even in a rapidly industrializing world, the directness of mark-making remains a powerful means of expression. This sketch encourages us to consider the value of process, and the often-unseen labor that underpins artistic creation.