Figuurstudies 1884 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner made these figure studies with charcoal on paper. It's a quick, direct medium, well-suited for capturing fleeting impressions. The marks are immediate, the texture soft and smudgy. Breitner exploits these qualities, using broad strokes to suggest volume and form. You can almost feel the pressure of the charcoal stick against the paper, a physical record of the artist's hand. The barest amount of labor involved in sketches like these, intended to be developed into future works, reminds us that creative endeavors are rarely easy. They require a level of dedication that can go unnoticed. The rawness of the medium invites us to consider the social context of Breitner's work. Was it a quick and affordable way of creating studies or a conscious choice to embrace the immediacy and honesty of the material? By understanding the materials and making processes involved in the creation of these studies, we can fully appreciate the skill and vision of the artist and challenge traditional notions of fine art and craft.