Artwork
Artillery on Maneuver
Artillery on Maneuver is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist George Hendrik Breitner. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work captures the movement of an artillery unit, focusing on the interaction between the riders and their mounts during a drill or exercise.
Painted in 1901, George Hendrik Breitner's Artillery on Maneuver depicts a dynamic military scene centered on soldiers and horses. The work captures the movement of an artillery unit, focusing on the interaction between the riders and their mounts during a drill or exercise. By isolating these figures, the painting emphasizes the discipline and physical coordination required in military operations.
The composition reflects Breitner's interest in documenting contemporary life and the specific mechanics of the Dutch army, presenting the subject with a sense of immediacy and naturalism.
Technique & Style
Created in 1901, Artillery on Maneuver is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel. The work measures 29.5 cm in height and 40.5 cm in width. Visually, the composition depicts soldiers and horses, capturing a military scene characteristic of the artist's focus on dynamic movement and urban or martial subjects within the Netherlands.
History & Provenance
Artillery on Maneuver was painted in 1901 by George Hendrik Breitner, executed in oil on panel measuring approximately 29.5 cm in height and 40.5 cm in width. The work depicts a soldier on horseback and was made in the Netherlands.
The painting is classified as a work of art in the Rijksmuseum's holdings and is presently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. No earlier provenance or commission details are recorded in the available sources.
Context
Breitner's 1901 work Artillery on Maneuver entered the Rijksmuseum collection shortly after its creation, reflecting the institution's early acquisition of contemporary Dutch art. The painting's dynamic depiction of soldiers and horses during maneuvers received contemporary attention for its vigorous realism and technical execution, though early reviews focused more on its energetic composition than symbolic meaning. Scholarship situates the piece within Breitner's broader exploration of urban and military life, linking it to his interest in capturing fleeting moments of modern existence.
Its presence in the Rijksmuseum's holdings established a precedent for collecting works portraying active national themes in the early 20th century.
Overview
George Hendrik Breitner’s 1901 oil painting Artillery on Maneuver portrays a tranquil military exercise in an open field. A small group of cavalrymen in blue uniforms and black shakos are mounted on brown horses, while a lone soldier stands beside a gray, horse‑drawn carriage. A low hill dotted with trees rises in the distance beneath a light‑gray sky, giving the scene a calm, unhurried atmosphere.
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Artist & collection
Artist
George Hendrik Breitner (12 September 1857 – 5 June 1923) was a Dutch painter and photographer.
