To udkast til "Dreng, der planter" ("Hoppat"), foroven to kvindehoveder 1904 - 1909

Karl Isakson made this pencil sketch, "To udkast til 'Dreng, der planter' ('Hoppat'), foroven to kvindehoveder," and it feels like a page torn from a sketchbook, a place for half-formed ideas. I imagine Isakson in his studio, trying to figure something out. These soft graphite lines create a sense of fleeting impressions, a mother’s face, a child planting. Are they memories, fantasies, or maybe just studies for a larger painting? It's like Isakson is thinking through the act of drawing, each mark leading to the next. The pressure of the pencil varies, creating light and shadow, volume and depth. I bet he was looking at the way other artists were working at the time, like Paula Modersohn-Becker, who also captured the intimate moments of everyday life. It reminds me that artists are always in conversation with each other, borrowing and building upon the ideas of those who came before. It feels really intimate, like you’re getting a peek into Isakson's private world.