Schetsboek met 34 bladen Possibly 1882 - 1900

This sketchbook with 34 pages was made by George Hendrik Breitner sometime during his career, now held at the Rijksmuseum. Breitner lived in a time of massive social change, shaped by industrialization and urbanization. Considered through today's lens, Breitner's art invites us to reflect on representation, particularly of women and the working class. As an artist, he was drawn to the raw energy of Amsterdam, capturing fleeting moments of everyday life, and in his sketchbooks, he developed some of his most recognizable work. Breitner moved away from idealized portrayals, choosing instead to depict the lives of ordinary people, often sex workers, with an empathetic eye. As you observe this sketchbook, you might think about the stories it holds within its pages, and how Breitner used the intimate medium of drawing to engage with the complex realities of his time. His works often provoke conversations about whose stories are told, and who gets to tell them.