Who painted Scene with Horses Standing in Stream?

Scene with Horses Standing in Stream was painted by George Hendrik Breitner in 1890.

Where can I see Scene with Horses Standing in Stream?

Scene with Horses Standing in Stream is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Scene with Horses Standing in Stream?

Scene with Horses Standing in Stream is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Scene with Horses Standing in Stream

George Hendrik Breitner , 1890

Scene with Horses Standing in Stream is an ink print by the Impressionist artist George Hendrik Breitner. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

George Hendrik Breitner’s 1890 print *Scene with Horses Standing in Stream* is an etching that captures a moment of livestock paused in shallow water. The composition places the animals in the foreground, their limbs intersecting in a tangle of lines, while two indistinct figures linger nearby. The work exemplifies Breitner’s focus on ordinary, everyday subjects rendered with immediacy.

Subject & Meaning

The image records a mundane scene of horses drinking or wading, emphasizing the interaction between animal and environment. By depicting the water’s surface and the muddied ground with quick, sketch‑like strokes, Breitner underscores the transitory quality of light and movement, inviting viewers to consider the fleeting nature of daily life.

Technique & Style

Created through the etching process, the print relies on incised lines that retain ink on the paper, producing a textured, tactile surface rather than a smooth painted field. Breitner’s handling of line is loose and expressive; the rapid, sketchy marks suggest rippling water and the muddied terrain, while darker outlines define the figures and horses.

History & Provenance

Breitner, a central figure in Amsterdam Impressionism, produced this work during a period when he frequently worked outdoors and incorporated photographic studies into his practice. The etching reflects his interest in documenting urban and rural moments with a realist eye, aligning with his broader oeuvre of street and harbor scenes.

Context

*Scene with Horses Standing in Stream* illustrates Breitner’s commitment to portraying the ordinary with a sense of immediacy, a hallmark of late‑19th‑century Dutch art. The print contributes to the understanding of how etching served as a medium for artists to explore atmospheric effects and movement, influencing subsequent generations of realist printmakers.