Hoofden Possibly 1883 - 1886

Editor: Here we have "Hoofden," or "Heads," by George Hendrik Breitner, possibly created between 1883 and 1886. It’s a pencil drawing at the Rijksmuseum. It's raw and unfinished, a quick study maybe? What stands out to me is how these fragmented portraits, seemingly floating on the page, capture a certain realism that seems at odds with traditional portraiture. What can you tell me about it? Curator: It's interesting that you see realism in these sketches. Consider the broader cultural context of late 19th-century art. Breitner, aligned with the Amsterdam Impressionists, challenged academic conventions. His choice of everyday subjects and informal compositions was a departure from the idealized and staged portraits favored by the establishment. The "public" of art began to shift with Realism and Impressionism: it was the burgeoning middle class who encountered such works increasingly often in public museums or in more democratic exhibition spaces than before. Do you see the political implications in this focus on capturing "ordinary" faces? Editor: I see your point. Instead of idealised faces, we're looking at potentially overlooked members of society. How does that tie into the art world back then? Curator: Museums were becoming increasingly accessible. Breitner’s sketches, even unfinished, offer a glimpse into a different kind of social representation, sidestepping established patrons and allowing viewers to identify with everyday people, or envision what 'the street' might be. Now, consider how that democratic gesture affects our experience of seeing portraits by say, Frans Hals. Editor: So Breitner's rough style makes the work feel almost rebellious for its time, making me reflect how portraits can also say something about who had the cultural power. Thank you! Curator: Precisely. This sketch becomes a commentary on how representation can be democratized, who and how the ‘everyday’ is pictured, even in what looks to be such an informal pencil drawing. Something to keep in mind as we look at more artworks during this visit.