Bladeren 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, ‘Bladeren,’ date unknown, as a page in a sketchbook. As an artist working in the Netherlands during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Breitner positioned himself amidst a period of significant social and artistic transformation. He aligned himself with a progressive artistic movement, and was known for depicting the daily life of the working class in Amsterdam. This sketchbook page, with its seemingly random jottings and indistinct figures, speaks to the artist's process of observation and documentation. It offers a glimpse into the artist's working methods, outside of the established academic tradition of the time. To fully understand this artwork, it is necessary to examine the social conditions that shaped Breitner's artistic production, and to consider the ways in which he sought to challenge or subvert the existing norms of his time. By delving into archival materials, and historical accounts, we gain a richer understanding of this art.