Groep vrouwen, op de rug gezien c. 1886 - 1903

This sketch, by George Hendrik Breitner, presents a cluster of women viewed from behind, quickly rendered in charcoal on paper. The immediacy of charcoal allows for rapid mark-making, capturing fleeting moments and impressions. The artist uses loose, gestural lines to define the figures' forms and clothing, focusing on mass rather than detail. Notice how Breitner exploits the textural qualities of charcoal, with smudges and varying line weights suggesting depth and shadow. The unrefined quality of the sketch is part of its appeal; the emphasis on process over polish. The choice of such a modest medium speaks to a particular moment in art history, one in which artists were increasingly interested in the everyday lives of ordinary people, and the gritty realities of modern urban life. This sketch shows that the quickest of materials can suggest so much.