拍品专文
During his stay in Paris in 1884 Breitner already painted several city views in which he manifests himself as the painter par excellence of modern everyday life subject-matter. These paintings, in which Breitner focusses on the construction of large-scale building projects and the life of working-class citizens, are a prelude to his Amsterdam period and works such as the 'Cruquiusweg' in particular. When the artist moved to Amsterdam in 1866 the city's appearance was determined by economical and structural change, the latter apparant in ambitious building developments on the edge of the old city, around the harbours and in the centre. Breitner was fascinated by this explosion of new building-sites and depicted the theme as such on numerous occasions, using photographs as preparatory material. In the case of the present lot, it is common knowledge that the artist used his sketchbook and camera to register the labourers and horses at work.(Foto RKD) As apposed to his early works, in which Breitner depicted horses in a dynamic military setting, the two white horses in the present lot denote the strenuous work carried out and emphasize the social content of the painting. The 'Cruquiusweg' has been rendered with Breitner's characteristic broad and expressionistic brushstrokes and illustrates his artistry in picturing light.
See colour illustration
See colour illustration