Paardenhoofd 1887 - 1891

This sketch of a horse’s head was created by George Hendrik Breitner, and is now held at the Rijksmuseum. The drawing immediately strikes one with its simplicity and the economical use of line to capture the essence of the animal’s form. Breitner's approach here is a study in reduction. The composition is stark; the horse's head is rendered with just a few lines against the plain backdrop of the paper. The focus is not on detail but rather on the structural framework. The lines themselves appear almost tentative, yet they succeed in suggesting the horse's features and posture. This work exemplifies a shift in art towards prioritizing the act of seeing and recording over traditional representation. It invites us to consider how much can be communicated with minimal means. It is a reminder that art, at its core, is about the artist's perception and the distillation of form. This is not merely a sketch of a horse but also an exercise in visual thinking.