Bukkende figuren in een landschap Possibly 1882 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner created this graphite sketch, 'Bukkende figuren in een landschap', sometime between 1870 and 1923. Graphite, in its raw form, is a relatively common, unassuming material, yet it's potential to capture light, shadow, and form made it the perfect choice for an artist like Breitner. The sketchbook itself, is a portable, mass-produced item, bound with thread, containing many blank pages. This accessibility allowed the artist to quickly capture fleeting moments in everyday life. The rapid strokes and gestural lines suggest that it was made en plein air, perhaps while observing laborers in a field. This impressionistic method, combined with the humble materials, democratized the artistic process. It allowed Breitner to engage with the lives of working-class individuals and everyday landscapes. The materials and making of this artwork, speak to the way art can elevate the everyday, by finding beauty and significance in ordinary subjects. It challenges traditional notions of high art.