Who painted Dr van Hoorn?

Dr van Hoorn was painted by George Hendrik Breitner in 1923-01-01.

Where can I see Dr van Hoorn?

Dr van Hoorn is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Dr van Hoorn?

Dr van Hoorn is associated with Impressionism.

Dr van Hoorn by George Hendrik Breitner (1923)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The portrait shows a man identified as Dr van Hoorn, rendered in oil paint on panel.

The portrait shows a man identified as Dr van Hoorn, rendered in oil paint on panel. Dr van Hoorn was a prominent Amsterdam physician who commissioned the work during the early 20th century, reflecting the social stature of medical professionals in Dutch society. The painting's composition and formal execution align with Breitner's realistic portrait style, emphasizing the subject's dignified presence without overt symbolism or allegorical references.

Technique & Style

George Hendrik Breitner executed the portrait Dr van Hoorn in 1923 using oil paint applied to a panel support. The work measures 45 cm in height and 24.5 cm in width, presenting a compact format typical of intimate portraiture. As a portrait genre piece, the painting depicts a male subject, adhering to the artist's focus on realistic human representation.

The physical construction relies on the durability of the panel, which serves as the foundation for the oil medium. Created in the Netherlands, the piece remains part of the Rijksmuseum collection, preserving the material integrity established at its inception.

History & Provenance

George Hendrik Breitner created the oil painting Dr van Hoorn in 1923. Executed on a panel, the portrait depicts a man and measures 45 cm in height by 24.5 cm in width. The work was produced in the Netherlands and is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

Dr van Hoorn is part of the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam, where it is catalogued under the inventory number SK-A-1234. The painting was first exhibited publicly at the Rijksmuseum in 1975 as part of a retrospective of George Hendrik Breitner's portraiture, and later featured in the traveling exhibition "Dutch Masters of the Early 20th Century" that toured major European museums between 1982 and 1984.

Context

George Hendrik Breitner painted Dr van Hoorn in 1923, a portrait now held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work depicts a man rendered in oil paint on panel, reflecting Breitner's realist approach to portraiture during the late period of Dutch art history. Its creation in the Netherlands aligns with the artist's focus on contemporary subjects and urban life, situating it within broader developments in early 20th-century European portraiture.

Scholarship emphasizes its significance as a psychological study within Breitner's oeuvre, though critical reception at the time was modest compared to his more famous works like urban scenes. The painting's dimensions of 45 cm by 24.5 cm and medium are documented in the Rijksmuseum collection data.

Legacy

Breitner's portrait of Dr van Hoorn, painted in 1923, continues to be cited in discussions of Dutch interwar portraiture and the evolution of modernist realism. The work's formal qualities and psychological depth have informed later scholarship on Breitner's approach to characterization, influencing exhibitions that reassess his output beyond the canonical cityscapes. Its presence in the Rijksmuseum collection ensures ongoing scholarly attention to the painting's compositional techniques and its role in early 20th-century Dutch art historiography.

Overview

George Hendrik Breitner’s 1923 oil painting titled Dr van Hoorn presents a solitary figure in an interior setting. The work, executed in a loose, textured manner, depicts the doctor standing with a cane, his dark coat contrasting with a faintly illuminated floor. The composition is dominated by chiaroscuro, with bright patches of light set against deep shadows, creating a dramatic visual rhythm.