A group of horses, Saltholmen 1906

Theodor Philipsen made this painting of horses in Saltholmen, and what strikes me is his approach to the everyday – the way he finds a composition in the midst of grazing animals and open skies. Looking closely, you can see Philipsen used a variety of brushstrokes to bring this scene to life. In the foreground, the grass is rendered with quick, energetic strokes, while the horses themselves are formed with a more blended, careful touch, making great use of tonal variation to describe their forms. There’s a light, almost creamy quality to the paint, especially in the sky, where the blues and pinks softly merge. The horse in the centre – the one looking right at us – has a particularly interesting face. The painter seems to have spent more time on it, bringing it into focus, while some of the others drift into haziness. I am reminded a little of Boudin, also painting scenes from life, but Philipsen has a certain earthiness. It's about the beauty of process.