- 248
George Hendrik Breitner Dutch, 1857-1923
Description
- George Hendrik Breitner
- 'Figuren op de Dam bij avond' (Figures on Dam Square at night, Amsterdam)
- signed l.l.
- oil on canvas
- 77 by 118 cm.
Provenance
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum, on loan since 1910
Antwerpen, Museum voor Schone Kunsten, on loan untill 1949
Sale Amsterdam (Mak van Waay), Collection Dr. J. Esser, 14 June 1949, lot 196, illustrated
Sale Amsterdam (Frederik Muller), 20-23 November 1951, lot 213
Private collection, The Netherlands
Exhibited
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum, G.H. Breitner, 18 November 1994 - 5 February 1995, no. 65
Brescia (Italy), Palazzo Martinengo, Impressionismi in Europa. Non solo Francia, 7 July 2001 - 6 January 2002
on loan to the Singer Museum, Laren, inv.no. 68-4-2
Literature
R. Bergsma, P. Hefting, George Hendrik Breitner 1857-1923. Schilderijen, tekeningen, foto's, Bussum 1994, no. 56, illustrated in colour on p. 142
Kees Keijer, Breitner's Amsterdam, Bussum 2004, illustrated in colour on p. 33
Catalogue Note
The present lot, painted in 1893, depicts one of Breitner’s favourite subjects: the busy Dam square in Amsterdam during the evening. Breitner depicts the many figures with raw strength, using effects of chiaroscuro, saturated colours and roughly applied brushstrokes. He crosses the boundaries of pure registration, capturing the essential features of the figures in a crude, dynamic style. As such, he created a powerful icon of Amsterdam Impressionism.
What strikes us most is the daring composition, with figures partly cut off by the edges. Breitner aims for a snapshot effect which is closely linked to the artist’s fascination for photography. Himself a talented photographer, Breitner was one of the first to use artistic devices he borrowed from photography.
The present lot originally formed part of the collection of Dr. J.F.S. Esser (1877-1946). He was the family doctor of Breitner, with whom he shared a passion for chess; both were members of the chess club ‘Parkwijk’. Esser knew Breitner very well and even wrote a book on him, which never appeared in print (H. Breitner. Indrukken en Biographische Aanteekeningen). Interestingly enough, Essers favoured Breitner’s more sketchy, spontaneous works, which is reflected in the acquisitions he made. All of the Breitner’s Esser possessed were bought directly from the artist. In 1910 Esser gave them on loan to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. The present lot is featured on the photograph second on the right (see illustration). Esser’s large collection was sold at auction in two parts, in 1919 and in 1949. The present lot was sold in the second part, in 1949, at Mak van Waay in Amsterdam.
* Steunfoto plaatsen van bruikleen Esser aan het Stedelijk in 1910, boek R. Bergsma, p. 59