Annotaties c. 1882

This page of annotations was made by George Hendrik Breitner, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, with graphite on paper. Far from a finished drawing, it is a working document, full of numbers, calculations, and addresses. The texture of the page speaks to its purpose: soft graphite smudging on the slightly absorbent paper, lines quickly jotted down as ideas came to mind. These are not traditional art materials meant to last centuries. Instead, the artist used humble and easily available tools. The visible labor in this piece is the labor of the artist’s mind: working out sums, recording observations, and keeping track of people he needs to contact. This kind of everyday effort tends to be hidden from view in grander works. The annotations are a reminder that even great art has its roots in mundane tasks. By valuing the material and the making, we expand what counts as art, embracing all forms of creative work.