Man met hoed, op de rug gezien Possibly 1882 - 1886

This is George Hendrik Breitner’s sketch, ‘Man met hoed, op de rug gezien,’ housed at the Rijksmuseum. Breitner, living from 1857 to 1923, captured scenes of everyday life in the Netherlands, often focusing on the working class in Amsterdam. Here, a man is depicted from behind, his hat casting shadows that obscure his features. Consider the context: late 19th-century Amsterdam, a city undergoing rapid urbanization and social change. Men’s fashion, including hats, often signaled social status, yet here, the anonymity of the figure levels any immediate reading of class. Breitner was interested in capturing fleeting moments, using a direct, unidealized style that reflected the gritty realities of urban life. There’s an undeniable loneliness to the figure, walking away and swallowed by a city in flux. Breitner’s focus on the back of the man raises the question of identity. What do we assume about him based on his obscured presence? Perhaps, it is that very lack of distinction that Breitner seeks to highlight.