Ung pige med hat, profil t.v. 1907 - 1908

Harald Giersing made this small study of a young girl in a hat with watercolour and graphite. I love how the blue washes bleed around the graphite lines, creating an atmosphere of cool tranquility. You get the sense that Giersing wasn’t trying to capture every detail but was more interested in the feeling of the thing. Look how the strokes describing the hat are like little scribbles, capturing not just the shape but the airiness of the fabric, and consider the way the blue wash pools around her jawline, subtly suggesting the contours of her face. The paper itself seems to participate, adding its own texture and tone to the mix. It’s like the whole thing is a dance between control and chance. It makes me think of how Matisse would sketch figures in his Nice period, just a few lines and a hint of color, but somehow, they feel so alive. This piece isn’t about perfection; it’s about capturing a fleeting moment, an impression, and that’s what makes it so special.