Studie, mogelijk van een brug c. 1903

George Hendrik Breitner made this study, possibly of a bridge, with pen in ink on paper. Breitner, who lived from 1857 to 1923, lived and worked through a time of great urban expansion in the Netherlands. Here, he’s sketched a simple image of a bridge which may at first seem innocuous. But it offers us a glimpse into the social and institutional context of art production during his time. The Rijksmuseum, where this sketch is housed, was itself a product of the 19th century’s emphasis on national identity and cultural heritage. Artists like Breitner played a role in shaping that identity. To understand his art better, we delve into archives, letters, and period publications, uncovering the intricate connections between art, society, and the institutions that supported it. After all, the meaning of art is not inherent but contingent on the context in which it emerges and circulates.