Zittende en een staande dame 1867 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this drawing, "Zittende en een staande dame", using graphite on paper. Graphite, in its raw form, is a soft, pliable material, easily manipulated to create a range of tonal values. Breitner’s method is all about directness. The speed and ease with which he could capture a scene, suggest a social world in motion. Look at the way he has used hatching and cross-hatching to build up areas of shadow and form. The linear quality emphasizes the immediacy of the sketch, as though he captured the women in a fleeting moment. The very qualities of the medium – its unassuming availability and capacity for reproduction - underscore this effect. While not as overtly political as other works, Breitner's drawing reflects an interest in the everyday life of ordinary people, and invites us to consider the social realities of his time. This drawing invites us to look closer at how artists use humble materials to convey the richness and complexity of the world around us.