Gamle ege ved Hald sø 1903

Louise Ravn-Hansen made this landscape drawing with ink on paper, probably en plein air! Look at the marks, they are so tiny, like she's weaving a tapestry with her pen. The way she uses all these small strokes to build up the image is so thoughtful, it feels like she is really present in the act of creating. The texture of the ink is smooth, almost polished. The way she works the pen creates this incredible depth. It’s like you can feel the weight of the old trees, and the coolness of the water. See the way she uses light and shadow to suggest form. The density of marks in the forground gives way to larger skipes of bare paper in the background, creating a strong sense of depth. There’s an area, just to the left of the center, where the branches of the trees twist. I love the way she captures that tangled energy! Ravn-Hansen’s work reminds me of Agnes Martin’s quiet landscapes, but with a wilder edge. It’s that blend of stillness and raw energy that makes it so captivating. Art, like nature, is an ever-changing conversation.