The Wooden Shoes (1884 - 1885)
Technique: Giclée quality print
Recommended by our customers
More about this artwork
"The Wooden Shoes" (1884 - 1885) by George Hendrik Breitner masterfully captures the simplicity and emotive depth of its young subject, illustrating the artist's keen interest in the lives of ordinary people. This painting, characterized by its loose, vigorous brushstrokes and somber palette, portrays a young child seated in an inviting but dilapidated interior, traditional wooden shoes prominently displayed.Breitner’s choice of subject—a child wearing a bonnet, eyes wide with an expression that intermingles curiosity and a hint of melancholy—invokes a poignant sense of innocence and vulnerability. The child's hands are clasped gently in the lap, and the oversized wooden shoes suggest a life of humble means and practical attire. The dark tones and textured application of paint create a sense of warmth and immediacy, pulling viewers into this quiet, introspective moment.Set against a backdrop that seems to merge shadows and furniture, Breitner's composition pushes the figure towards the viewer, making the child's expression even more engaging and intimate.
Delivery
Returns
George Hendrik Breitner (12 September 1857 – 5 June 1923) was a Dutch painter and photographer. An important figure in Amsterdam Impressionism, he is noted especially for his paintings of street scenes and harbours in a realistic style. He painted en plein air, and became interested in photography as a means of documenting street life and atmospheric effects – rainy weather in particular – as reference materials for his paintings.