Studie, mogelijk van een landschap met paarden 1884 - 1886

Curator: Looking at this sketch, the immediate feeling is one of raw energy, almost volcanic. The graphite practically dances across the paper. Editor: Indeed. What we have here is a study, possibly of a landscape with horses, created by George Hendrik Breitner between 1884 and 1886. It’s currently held in the Rijksmuseum's collection. Curator: I see movement—a stand of trees caught in a gust of wind, and those suggestive lines of the horses…it’s as if Breitner is chasing after something fleeting. A feeling, more than a scene. The impression is strong! Editor: I'm drawn to how those skeletal trees mimic the legs of the animals, a connection between the living beings and their environment, right? Breitner's choice of graphite almost lends the scene an ethereal, dreamlike quality, reflecting transience and transition. He seems fascinated by the energy of things. Curator: Precisely! Graphite, the way it catches light, adds this mercurial quality. You almost expect the scene to shift before your eyes, which aligns beautifully with his dedication to Impressionism. Breitner sees horses everywhere: symbols of speed and vigor which are traits so deeply entrenched in Dutch cultural memory. Editor: And think of what horses meant to a rapidly modernizing Amsterdam! Breitner used to be a war artist! Curator: Of course! The ghost of battles. These symbols show up in unexpected places; what you describe in his paintings he tests out in drawing—perhaps an initial stage for how to portray modern Dutch life in the industrial revolution? Editor: I’d say. In essence, this seemingly simple sketch pulsates with layers of historical, cultural, and deeply personal significance, even though he does a quick impression, there's something so incredibly personal. Curator: Right! Something quick can last long.