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The manoeuvres of the artillerie and the exercises of cavalerists, all in peace time, inspired Breitner to produce many watercolours, drawings and paintings. The present lot resembles in its subject and composition the works which Breitner executed on the theme of the shoeing-smith (1881-1883). Some critics judged his work to be careless, with too much emphasis on colouring and too little on form, like the paintings by Anton Mauve and Jozef Israels. However, his young contemporaries recognised his talent and admired him for these military scenes, not only for the dynamic elements, but also for the colouring. Willem Witsen wrote: "Look at the glorious harmony of the emotional colours". Breitner witnessed many exercises in Scheveningen, Brabant and Arnhem with his sketchbook at hand.