Studie, mogelijk een figuurstudie c. 1886 - 1923

This sketch, possibly a figure study, was made by George Hendrik Breitner, using graphite on paper. Look at how Breitner approaches mark making, capturing the essence of form with minimal lines, a real understanding of artmaking as a process. The texture of the paper becomes part of the drawing, the graphite catching on its surface. The lines are quick and decisive, some darker than others, creating depth and shadow. Notice that cluster of marks towards the bottom right - is it a chair, or perhaps a collection of objects? It’s almost like a little abstract painting within the larger sketch. Breitner's contemporary Edgar Degas comes to mind, in his ability to capture movement and form with such economy of line. And like all great art, it invites us to linger, to question, and to find our own meanings within its delicate lines.