Figuurstudies 1893

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, Figuurstudies, in the Netherlands, though we don't have the exact date. We can tell from the notes on the page that this was made sometime in January. The sketch gives us insight into Breitner’s working process. As we can see, he would create multiple sketches of similar subjects on a single page. Breitner lived and worked in Amsterdam during a time of rapid social change. He's known for his realistic and often gritty depictions of city life, which reflect the social conditions of the time. The institutional history of art in the Netherlands during the late 19th century was marked by a tension between traditional academic art and new, more modern approaches. Artists like Breitner were challenging the established norms and pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in the art world. To fully understand the meaning and context of this work, historians consult a wide range of resources, including letters, diaries, newspaper articles, and exhibition reviews. It's important to remember that art is not created in a vacuum, but is shaped by the social and institutional forces of its time.