Zittende vrouw en man c. 1873 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner captured this image in a sketch of graphite on paper. In it, we see a man and woman together, yet the woman's extended arm and open palm is a gesture that speaks to an emotional gulf between them. This motif of an outstretched hand has appeared across time, from ancient Roman oration to Renaissance depictions of Adam reaching for God. Here, though, the gesture is not one of supplication, but of distance, a silent plea that perhaps goes unanswered. The man's hunched posture contrasts starkly with the woman's open stance, suggesting a deeper disconnection. These gestures are imbued with the weight of human experience, passed down through art and culture. The emotional tension that Breitner captures speaks to a universal human experience, engaging us on a subconscious level. The motif is a silent scream, a yearning that echoes across centuries. The cycle of hope and despair continues, as this visual language resurfaces, evolving with each new telling.