Strijdende soldaten c. 1871 - 1876

Curator: This is a pencil drawing titled "Strijdende Soldaten," or "Fighting Soldiers," by George Hendrik Breitner, likely created between 1871 and 1876. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: There's an immediacy to it, isn’t there? The loose lines create such a sense of frenetic energy. You can almost hear the chaos of battle, despite the static image. Curator: Indeed. Breitner was deeply interested in depicting modern life, even within the tradition of history painting. Think about the labor involved in military campaigns, the logistics, the cost to ordinary people, not just heroic generals. He’s really focusing on the human cost. Editor: I’m immediately drawn to the image of the raised sabers, a ubiquitous symbol for war. It suggests aggression and power, of course, but what about the symbolism of the individual soldiers in these struggles for nation-states? Are they sacrificing themselves for king and country, or for some deeper concept of "glory"? Curator: His choice of pencil as a medium also speaks volumes. Drawings, unlike grand oil paintings, were more accessible, easily reproduced. Consider its status as a preparatory sketch rather than the 'final' art object itself. Does that demote it in the classical hierarchy, or imbue it with special insight into Breitner's own making? Editor: A fair point, however, notice how skillfully he uses shading and line to suggest the figures’ movements. It reminds me of earlier Romantic works depicting heroic struggle, while at the same time it foreshadows the psychological realities of turn-of-the-century angst that Breitner often portrays. The man on the rearing horse has his back to us, suggesting a loss of individuality for soldiers as part of a huge system. Curator: Exactly. And Breitner himself had military experience, so this wasn’t an abstract exercise. He experienced firsthand the disorienting effects of war, the de-personalization, the blurring of individual action within mass mobilisation. Editor: A complex and multifaceted work! Seeing the familiar symbols rendered with such an expressive line urges a viewer to rethink well-worn, inherited myths about combat and heroism. Curator: I agree, understanding Breitner’s process and background illuminates his commentary on the production of national identity through military conflict. A fascinating piece on so many levels!