Samme motiv som recto 1907 - 1910

Curator: Oluf Hartmann created this piece, "Samme motiv som recto," between 1907 and 1910. It’s an ink drawing on paper currently held here at the SMK. Editor: My first thought? Melancholy. The stark black ink on the off-white paper gives it an almost ghostly feel. There's a tension, a struggle depicted, and a figure reaching upwards, seemingly pleading. Curator: It's intriguing how Hartmann employed such raw materials—basic ink and paper—to convey that emotion. What specific symbols do you see at play contributing to this? Editor: Well, the animal, or what seems to be an animal, cradled or perhaps strangled, immediately evokes sacrificial imagery. And that reaching figure—is it despair, supplication, or a glimpse of hope? The upward gaze is powerful. Perhaps the symbolism connects with early 20th-century anxieties and yearnings. Curator: Considering the period, think of the growing industrialization and shifting social structures. Did Hartmann, through his art, address the disconnect and spiritual unease many felt then? The materiality suggests accessibility, mass production potential—yet the subject hints at unique suffering. Editor: Precisely! The stark contrast—cheap, readily available materials depicting existential angst. And the ambiguity of the forms allows for a layering of interpretation. It resonates because those emotional experiences, regardless of era, touch upon fundamental aspects of human existence. The lack of a defined setting also contributes to the timeless quality, don't you think? Curator: I do. It almost makes one consider how our relationship to the means of production changes the perception of art and the very value of human labor itself. Editor: Indeed. This work speaks across time through its raw emotionality embedded within the visual symbolism. Curator: An intriguing piece. It forces a deep look not just at the surface, but at the underlying structures and human impact of its era. Editor: A journey into the depths of the symbolic and psychological—and, ultimately, into ourselves.