Træer 1922

Here is the story: Christian Kongstad Petersen made this drawing called "Trees," with ink on paper. The composition is a dense array of vertical lines that establish the trunks of the trees, contrasting with the foliage in the upper portion of the artwork, which is a flurry of short strokes. This opposition between the vertical and more textured patterns creates visual interest while destabilizing the distinction between depth and surface. Consider the semiotic implications of the marks themselves: each stroke is a signifier, pointing to a network of natural forms and artistic gestures. The act of drawing becomes a symbolic construction of the landscape. The use of hatching to build up the volume of the leaves suggests a concern for form over the accurate depiction of light and shadow. Ultimately, the drawing is less about representing the specific qualities of a landscape, and more about exploring the potential of line and pattern. The artwork invites us to see nature as an assembly of marks, and the artistic practice as an interpretive act.