Study of Adolf Boutar in a Kimono c. 1881 - 1887

George Hendrik Breitner made this study of Adolf Boutar in a Kimono using graphite on paper. Here, the artist adopted accessible everyday materials to portray a figure draped in an imported garment. The graphite marks vary in pressure and direction, giving a sense of form and volume. Notice how the kimono's weight is conveyed through the density of the shading, particularly in the lower portion of the garment. The artist employs swift, confident lines to capture the essence of the subject, while leaving areas of the paper untouched. The choice of graphite as a medium speaks to the artist's interest in capturing a fleeting moment. Breitner was part of the Japonism movement in the Netherlands. Here, the artist engages with new aesthetic possibilities offered by Japanese art and culture, which were increasingly available due to global trade and colonial expansion, a trend with deep social and political implications. Paying close attention to the materials and context behind a work like this allows us to challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.