Erasmus Montanus disputerer med Per Degn 1840s

Wilhelm Marstrand created this lively scene with watercolor and pen on paper. Looking closely at the graphic quality, you can see the hand of the artist in every line. It feels less like a finished painting and more like a spontaneous record of a theatrical performance. Marstrand’s loose handling of the watercolors gives the scene an informal, immediate quality. It feels like a sketch of a stage play, one that's rooted in the everyday. The material itself, humble paper and readily available pigments, reinforces this sense of accessibility. Pen and ink define the figures, adding expressive definition to their faces and clothing, but it’s the watercolor washes that set the atmosphere, creating depth and shadow. The rough texture of the paper adds another layer of visual interest, reminding us of the artist’s process and the direct connection between hand, tool, and surface. In this way, Marstrand elevates a simple, unpretentious medium to create a captivating visual experience. He finds value in this scene, and the method by which it was made.