En skovsø 1928

Fritz Syberg made this drawing of a forest lake with pen and ink on paper. The artist was part of the Funen Painters, a group of Danish artists at the turn of the 20th century who broke away from the traditions of the Academy. Syberg’s drawing is part of a larger cultural movement in Europe and the US, where many artists turned their attention away from the idealized depictions of academic painting and instead focused on the everyday lives of ordinary people and the beauty of the natural world. The Funen painters were deeply inspired by the rural landscapes of their native island. The linear qualities of Syberg’s drawing emphasize the reflections on the water and the dense vegetation on the shore. By studying Syberg’s personal letters, exhibition reviews, and the writings of other artists from the period, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural context in which this drawing was made.