To små piger, der strør blomster. To udkast på samme blad 1914 - 1918

Curator: The sketch before us, “To sm\u00e5 piger, der str\u00f8r blomster. To udkast p\u00e5 samme blad” by Peter Hansen, created between 1914 and 1918, presents us with two pen drawings on a single sheet, both studies of two little girls scattering flowers. There’s a casual feel, and the figures appear fragile, suspended in ink. How does the nature of this drawing medium strike you? Editor: I’m drawn to how raw and immediate the pen feels. It seems like he’s capturing a fleeting moment. Given that it's from 1914-1918, what can the artwork's context tell us, particularly about the lives of ordinary people, the material conditions? Curator: Precisely! The date situates it squarely within the First World War. Now, consider the materiality: pen and paper, readily available, inexpensive. What does this tell us about Hansen's access to materials and perhaps even his intended audience or purpose? Was this destined for the grand gallery, or something more utilitarian? The impressionistic style is also significant - he chose a light style while the war surely weighed heavily. What does it say about the accessibility and use of the flowers? Editor: It makes me think about resourcefulness during wartime. Perhaps these materials suggest art becoming more accessible to a wider range of people, since pen and paper were quite simple. They make an event—scattering flowers—seem not simple, and instead imbued with greater value. How did the setting and period affect this artistic approach? Curator: Exactly! Think about how industrialization impacted artmaking and consumption; could the figures then be perceived as almost symbolic representations of fleeting beauty in contrast to the ever increasing impact of machinery and manufacturing on every-day-life, with paper as the support of it all? Are they participating in or pushing back against something? Editor: I see what you mean. So the sketch's seemingly simple composition actually raises much larger questions about the means of art production, distribution, accessibility, as well as life and culture in a society undergoing drastic changes? Curator: Precisely. Now, are those flowers for a wedding, a celebration of nature, a funeral, or… all of the above? I found that quite intriguing. Editor: It certainly provides a new and interesting perspective! Thank you.