Forskellige udkast, bl.a. "Christus og den Samaritanske Kvinde" 1839

Editor: So, this is Dankvart Dreyer's "Forskellige udkast, bl.a. 'Christus og den Samaritanske Kvinde'" – Different Drafts, including "Christ and the Samaritan Woman"— a pencil drawing from 1839. It's currently at the SMK. There's a collection of sketches here, kind of faint and dreamlike. What jumps out at you? Curator: The scene with Christ and the Samaritan woman immediately catches the eye. Notice how Dreyer frames them within an arch, creating a sense of sacred space. The well itself becomes a potent symbol – a meeting place, a source of life, but also a site of potential conflict or misunderstanding. What cultural connotations do you see in such an everyday object elevated to this setting? Editor: I guess wells can mean different things, both about resources and community… What strikes me is the contrast. We have this complete, biblical vignette, next to isolated sketches of faces and details, all coexisting on the same plane. It is like seeing into the artist's process itself. Curator: Precisely! These fragmented images are part of a cultural memory, passed down through generations. Dreyer is not just illustrating a story but tapping into the emotional and spiritual resonance this narrative has held for centuries. Do you think that seeing these various studies allows a deeper or shallower appreciation for Dreyer's overall intent? Editor: Probably a deeper one! You get the sense he is workshopping certain components. It reminds me that even ostensibly familiar iconography involves an iterative process. The image of the well seems like something permanent and stable in time, when the creation is messy and evolving. Curator: I see it as Dreyer connecting us, not just to a historical moment, but to a deeper, almost archetypal understanding of faith and humanity. A well is not just a place, but an access point into understanding symbolic weight over time. Editor: That's really interesting; I'd never considered how a humble drawing could act as such a multifaceted time capsule, showing not just the story, but how artists connect with that very story through time and iterations. Curator: It shows the persistence of certain symbolic meanings and our shared human experience that transcend the immediacy of their creation.