Zittende figuur in een landschap c. 1873 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, *Zittende figuur in een landschap*, using graphite on paper. The immediacy of graphite allows the artist to quickly capture a scene, giving the work a sense of spontaneity. You can see the texture of the paper, which interacts with the graphite to create varying tones and depths. The artist uses a range of techniques, from light, feathery lines to bold, assertive strokes. Graphite, as a material, invites a direct engagement with the surface, allowing the artist to build up layers and create a rich, complex image. Drawing has often been seen as a preliminary step, a sketch before a ‘finished’ work. But Breitner’s drawing here challenges that hierarchy, elevating the sketch to a work of art in its own right. By embracing the immediacy and inherent qualities of graphite and paper, he invites us to appreciate the beauty and significance of the everyday.