Paarden 1884 - 1886

This sketch, titled "Paarden" or Horses, was made by George Hendrik Breitner using graphite. Notice the almost aggressive application of the graphite. Breitner uses hatching to create the mass of the horses. We can read the marks as a kind of language. The thick, dark lines could signify the weight and muscle of the animals, while the frenzied, repetitive strokes might suggest their energy and movement. The sketch flattens the image, denying depth and perspective. Breitner seems less interested in the horses as subjects, than as opportunities to explore the interplay of line, tone, and texture, challenging our expectations of representation. The image becomes an exploration of the medium itself. The rough and raw quality of the sketch invites us to see the world through the artist's eyes, as a collection of marks and gestures.