Studie 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner’s ‘Studie’, held at the Rijksmuseum, is a sketch made with graphite pencil on paper. It is one of many studies he made of working class people in Amsterdam. The grainy texture of the graphite creates an atmospheric quality, emphasizing the rough and ready working conditions. You can see by the marks and lines made here, that the artist was interested in capturing the movement of labor. These processes connect the sketch to a wider social context, reflecting Breitner’s engagement with urban life. He documented everyday scenes, revealing the often unseen labor that sustained the city. By choosing such mundane material like graphite, Breitner elevates the dignity of labor, blurring the lines between fine art and everyday life. The sketch reminds us that art is not just about the finished product, but also about the processes and people behind it.