Landschap met soldaten te paard c. 1889 - 1904

This sketch of soldiers on horseback comes from the hand of George Hendrik Breitner. Breitner worked in Amsterdam during a period of rapid urban expansion and industrialisation in the late 19th century. As a young artist, Breitner was called up for military service, an experience which deeply impacted him, fostering an interest in depicting military life. Here, the sketchy quality suggests a fleeting moment captured in time, yet it also speaks to a deeper engagement with the identity of the soldier, and the experience of military service. In this study, Breitner captures the formal aspects of soldiers on horseback. However, it is important to consider how Breitner used his art to explore the everyday realities of the working class in Amsterdam, he once said "I am no idealized painter. I paint what I see and what touches me." His dedication to realism encouraged new ways of seeing and understanding the relationship between the individual and society. Breitner's art offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of those who are often overlooked, challenging traditional representations of heroism and power.