Annotaties c. 1886 - 1903

This is a page of annotations by George Hendrik Breitner, made with graphite on paper at an unknown date. Breitner was a Dutch painter known for his gritty depictions of urban life in Amsterdam during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This sketchbook page offers a glimpse into Breitner's artistic process, revealing the notes and observations that informed his paintings and photographs. The handwriting itself is a visual code, reflecting the artist's direct and unpolished approach to his work. His notes on urban scenes, weather, and the activities of daily life show the influence of the social and political changes of his time. The rise of industrialization and urbanization shaped the experience of people in the Netherlands, and Breitner sought to capture these transformations. By studying Breitner's annotations, along with other historical sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social conditions that shaped his art and the meaning it held for his contemporaries.