Twee achterlijven van paarden en een gezicht 1881 - 1883

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing, "Twee achterlijven van paarden en een gezicht", using graphite on paper. The composition is striking for its fragmentation and the unusual juxtaposition of forms. We see a roughly sketched face alongside incomplete renderings of horses' hindquarters. Breitner's focus isn't on creating a cohesive, realistic image. Instead, the sketch explores the interplay between figuration and abstraction. The lines are raw and immediate, capturing movement and energy. The face, with its somewhat distorted features, has an almost unsettling presence, contrasting with the more fluid lines of the horses. This fragmentation can be seen as Breitner's engagement with the changing perceptions of modernity. The sketch challenges traditional notions of representation, reflecting a world experienced in fleeting moments and disjointed encounters. It embraces the sketch-like quality, a visual record of the artist's process.