Vrouw, op de rug gezien 1880 - 1882

This is a sketch by George Hendrik Breitner, created during the late 19th or early 20th century, offering a glimpse into the artist's process and the social context of his time. Breitner, known for his depictions of working-class life in Amsterdam, often focused on women in intimate, everyday settings. This sketch, "Vrouw, op de rug gezien," or "Woman, Seen From the Back," captures a sense of quiet observation. The woman's anonymity invites us to consider the lives of ordinary women in a rapidly changing urban environment. Breitner was interested in the transient moments of modern life, and it is visible here in the delicate lines. The loose, gestural style suggests a fleeting moment, reflecting the artist's desire to capture the immediacy of experience. It invites us to reflect on the emotional and social realities of women during this period of modernization, and their representation in art.