Gezadeld paard 1887 - 1891

This is George Hendrik Breitner’s sketch, “Gezadeld paard”, housed at the Rijksmuseum. Executed with graphite, the drawing presents a saddled horse through a series of rapid, fragmented lines on a tan page. The composition is skeletal, with essential forms suggested rather than fully articulated, prompting the viewer to actively construct the image. The structural approach emphasizes capturing the dynamic tension and potential energy of the subject. Breitner isn’t merely depicting a horse, but rather exploring the semiotic essence of equine form and movement. This raw, provisional quality invites interpretation, reflecting a broader modernist concern with process over product. The linear structure of the artwork can be viewed through the lens of post-structuralism. The sketch destabilizes fixed meanings and resists closure, underscoring that art is not a static object but an active field of interpretation. In its deliberate incompleteness and dynamic line work, the drawing invites an ongoing dialogue between the artwork and its observer, fostering an appreciation for the fluidity of meaning.