Bøgetræer i Ermelunden 1924

Peter Ilsted made this print called ‘Bøgetræer i Ermelunden’ – Beech Trees in Ermelunden – at an unknown date with an etching technique. It’s all in muted browns and greys, a kind of monochrome, sepia world. You can almost feel Ilsted breathing as he created this image; the scratch of the etching needle, the acid biting into the plate, a wiping action, adjustments, and a deep exhalation. It’s as if he is trying to capture not just the appearance of the trees, but their weight, presence, and the atmosphere of the place. I can imagine him wanting to convey the feeling of being there, of standing among those trees, feeling the cool air, the damp earth. It’s funny how printmaking can make you so attuned to texture. The overall effect is quiet, meditative, and maybe even a little melancholic. It reminds me of other artists who explore nature with a similar sense of reverence, like some of the tonalist painters or even Whistler. We are all just trying to depict the world as we feel it, I guess.