Girl in a White Kimono by George Hendrik Breitner
George Hendrik Breitner’s 1894 painting, *Girl in a White Kimono*, found at the Rijksmuseum, captures a poignant moment with its young sitter.
The subject is Geesje Kwak, a sixteen-year-old who frequently modeled for Breitner. She is depicted in a white kimono, a garment the artist explored in a series of photographs and paintings, reflecting the Japonisme trend of the era. Notice the delicate floral motifs on the kimono, an homage to Japanese woodblock prints.
Breitner, an Amsterdam Impressionist, was fascinated by street life and often used photography as a reference for his paintings. Geesje's serene pose suggests a moment of contemplation, but her story beyond the canvas is less peaceful: she emigrated to South Africa shortly after this painting was made, seeking a new life.
This painting is a quiet testament to a fleeting moment and a young woman on the cusp of a significant change.
Details
Transcript
This young woman posed for this painter many times. She was Geesje Kwak, just sixteen years old. She modeled in his studio, wearing various kimonos. He was inspired by the Japanese prints popular then. She seems to rest, lost in thought. But Geesje left Holland soon after this, for South Africa.