Annotaties 1887 - 1889

George Hendrik Breitner made this annotated page with pencil on paper, but we can’t be sure exactly when. This document presents a window into the artist's world, listing names and addresses, a seemingly mundane collection of personal contacts. Breitner was a key figure in the Amsterdam Impressionism movement in the Netherlands. His art often depicted the working class and urban life, reflecting the rapidly changing social landscape of the late 19th century. In this context, even a simple address book page takes on a new significance. It serves as a social map, a network of connections that reveal the artist's immersion in his surroundings and his interaction with the people around him. As art historians, we look to archives, letters, and other period documents to piece together a richer understanding of an artwork's context. This annotated page connects Breitner’s artistic practice to the social fabric of his time.