Studieblad met hoofden en zittende figuren, mogelijk op het strand 1880 - 1882

This pencil drawing of heads and seated figures was made by George Hendrik Breitner, though the exact date is unknown. Breitner was working in Amsterdam at a time when the city was experiencing rapid social and economic change. Breitner's images often focus on working-class life and the urban environment. His work challenged the art establishment, which favored more traditional and idealized subjects. He was interested in capturing everyday life as it was, without romanticizing it. He moved away from the formal, academic styles that were popular at the time, which was viewed as progressive. Art historians can study Breitner's drawings alongside photographs, letters, and other documents to gain a deeper understanding of his artistic practice and social context. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.