Twee paarden 1893

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing, "Twee paarden," with a distinctive use of line and form. The image, spread across two pages of a sketchbook, presents a series of studies of horses rendered in charcoal, each marked with a different date. The composition emphasizes the dynamism and energy through a network of hatching and smudging. The lines delineate the forms of the horses, yet remain open, suggesting movement and transience. Breitner’s technique here reflects a move away from the static representation towards capturing a sense of immediacy and fleeting moments. This approach, however, destabilizes traditional artistic values, turning away from established techniques. The sketch is less about precise representation and more about the act of seeing. Breitner acknowledges that meaning is continuously being negotiated and redefined.