Man op een bank in een landschap c. 1873 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner made this charcoal drawing, "Man on a bench in a landscape," with charcoal. Here, we see a man in repose. The hat, a ubiquitous symbol of civilization, is lowered, shielding his eyes. The relaxed posture, a sign of leisure, contrasts sharply with the frenetic pace of modern life. It evokes a sense of melancholy, perhaps hinting at the anxieties of a rapidly changing world. Consider the seated figure, a motif found across centuries: from ancient philosophers in Greek sculpture to modern portraits of weary workers. In each iteration, the seated figure is placed to invoke contemplation and inward reflection. The bench itself—a place of rest, encounter, and observation—becomes a stage for human drama. This simple drawing, in its quiet way, speaks volumes about the human condition, inviting us to reflect on our own place in the ever-turning wheel of time.