Udkast til "Julenat" 1885

Curator: What a find this is! Joakim Skovgaard's preliminary sketch, "Udkast til Julenat," from 1885, offers such an intimate look at a grand biblical scene. Skovgaard rendered this drawing using ink on paper, and it now resides here at the SMK. Editor: Intimate indeed. There’s something almost haunting about the monochromatic palette— sepia washes pulling me into this softly illuminated yet shadowed space. It evokes a quiet intensity; anticipation? Perhaps a touch of foreboding. Curator: Foreboding is an interesting observation. The symbolism here, viewed through a more formal lens, leans heavily into narrative. Skovgaard outlines what appears to be Joseph gazing upon the newborn Jesus while Mary lies resting in bed. The ink-washed backdrop casts an ominous shadow that gives off a sort of mysterious narrative depth. Editor: I see the narrative, definitely. The stark contrast between the radiating light emanating from the child and the chaotic strokes above almost feels like two different worlds colliding in this tiny manger. It makes you wonder, though, is it the expectation of holiness, or does the composition mirror a looming threat? Skovgaard's own ambivalence makes it seem so intentional! Curator: Intention is everything. That raw vulnerability we're picking up could also reflect Skovgaard's mental state at the time. He poured his emotions, personal anxieties, even theological doubts, onto paper and canvas; these feelings often leaked into his interpretations of biblical scenes. It adds another fascinating layer. Editor: That perspective pulls together a much fuller image. Now the rapid hatching and almost violent strokes up top feel like a direct outpouring. So personal, like witnessing the raw and uncertain genesis of something profound. Curator: Yes! Looking back at it all together, Skovgaard created this piece through ink, and also faith, doubt, love and worry. That concoction of artistic passion and symbolic rendering are what gives his sketches such lasting power. Editor: Precisely, by laying all bare, Skovgaard has forged a unique intersection: The artist, the spiritual seeker, and, of course, the draftsman. A rare glimpse into his visionary workings.