Zittende herder 1867 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this pencil drawing, "Zittende herder," whose date remains unknown. Breitner lived during a time when the Netherlands was undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization, yet he often depicted traditional figures like this seated shepherd. This image is more than just a portrait; it's a study in contrasts. The shepherd, likely a figure from the countryside, is portrayed with a stark realism that doesn't romanticize his existence. We see a man weighed down, perhaps by the labor of his work or the changing times. The lines are rough, the shading is heavy, and the mood is somber, yet Breitner captures a sense of dignity. It makes me think about how people are often caught between worlds—the old and the new, the rural and the urban—and how that tension shapes who they are. Breitner gives us a moment to reflect on those transitions and the human cost of progress.