A slender woman stands before a mirror and puts on an earring. This is Breitner's favourite model: the young hat salesgirl Geesje Kwak. We se her from behind, but her concentrated expression can be seen in the mirror. She is wearing a blue kimono with a flower pattern. She wears a white sash around her waist. George Hendrik Breitner mainly painted scenes of everyday life in Amsterdam. He painted a large series of paintings of young women wearing kimonos, of which this is one. In the second half of the nineteenth century there was a growing interest in Japanese art in Europe. Japanese art objects were shown at the various Worlds Fairs and exhibitions of Japanese prints were organised. Artists such as Monet, Manet and Van Gogh were inspired by Japanese art. Around 1890 Breitner noted the titles of several books on Japanese art in his sketchbook. It seems he too was reading about Japanese art. It is in the same period that he made his paintings with young women in kimonos.
Specifications
| Title | The Earring |
|---|---|
| Material and technique | Oil on canvas |
| Object type |
Painting
> Painting
> Two-dimensional object
> Art object
|
| Location | This object is in storage |
| Dimensions |
Width 57,5 cm Height 84,5 cm |
|---|---|
| Artists |
Painter:
George Hendrik Breitner
: D. Sala & Zonen |
| Accession number | St 95 |
| Credits | Loan Stichting Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. Gift Mr de Mochy and Erasmus Foundation, 1952 |
| Department | Modern Art |
| Acquisition date | 1952 |
| Creation date | in 1893 |
| Internal exhibitions |
The Collection Enriched (2011) De collectie als tijdmachine (2017) Lievelingen (2024) |
| External exhibitions |
Boijmans bij de Buren - REMIX ROTTERDAM, Boijmans X Wereldmuseum (2020) Breitner. Schilderbeest (2024) Kinderen van de Haagse School (2023) |
| Material | |
| Object | |
| Geographical origin | The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe |
All about the artist
George Hendrik Breitner
Rotterdam 1857 - Amsterdam 1923
George Hendrik Breitner mainly became famous with his paintings of Amsterdam street life. He studied at various academies, including the Hague Academy, the...
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