Paarden 1884 - 1886

Curator: What strikes you first about this sketch? To me, it has a remarkable sense of immediacy. Editor: An air of tension, absolutely. They’re almost trapped within those rapidly sketched lines, those dark graphite bars. And a bit forlorn, I’d say. Curator: It's by George Hendrik Breitner, from around 1884-1886. This drawing is part of the Rijksmuseum collection and titled "Paarden," meaning Horses. Breitner was drawn to depicting horses, especially in working environments. He captures them in the thick of urban life. Editor: Horses always carry such potent symbolism, from emblems of war and aristocracy to symbols of raw, untamed power. It is the noblest animal and it’s interesting how they stand here – as figures subjected to labor, in what seems like very constricted space. Curator: Yes, and you sense that Breitner wasn't necessarily interested in portraying their majesty but in capturing the mood, the feeling of their presence within the city. They are ordinary, tired. It is so raw! Editor: He clearly felt something strongly about this. It is the kind of sketch an artist makes when he can’t turn away. There’s an almost uncomfortable empathy that seems to seep out from the image; those horses bear witness. The sketch is really more about the feeling they emanate in the landscape than them. Curator: Exactly! Breitner wasn't concerned with meticulous detail. It is the feeling. You see the broad strokes, the shading… it’s impressionistic in capturing fleeting sensations, no? The quick movements he conveys – even the energy of the city pressing down on them. I wonder, does it alter your perspective at all? Editor: Definitely. It is the animal symbol under pressure. An attempt to create feeling and not just record physical presence, and something I didn't grasp initially has now grown very poignant. It captures their being, not just their presence.