Fiskerdrengen Ham 1932

Christian Kongstad Petersen made "Fiskerdrengen Ham" with what looks like charcoal or a soft graphite, and the smudgy application gives it a wonderfully immediate feel, like a quick sketch straight from life. The texture is incredible, isn't it? The rough strokes create a sense of movement, as if the boy is walking right off the page. The artist really lets the material do its thing, with smudges and blurred lines adding to the overall effect. Look at the way the shading defines the form of the buckets he is carrying, it is economic and efficient. It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, in the way it captures the weight and weariness of everyday life. Ultimately, it's a piece that celebrates the beauty of simplicity and the power of suggestion.