Annotaties 1893

George Hendrik Breitner made this annotation page with graphite on paper. It's not a typical artwork, but it shows Breitner's working process. Looking at the paper, you can see the graphite has left smudges, telling us he likely worked quickly. The handwriting is casual, not precise. These material qualities give us insight into his mindset. He jotted down notes and measurements, maybe for future paintings. The artist was part of the late 19th century art world, when artists increasingly focused on capturing fleeting moments of modern life. The social context here is the artist's studio, where he was experimenting and developing ideas. Ultimately, by looking closely at the materials and the process, we can see how this simple annotation page captures Breitner's creative energy. It challenges the idea of what "art" can be, reminding us that the act of making is often as important as the final product.