Illustration til "De sidste timer", digt af H. J. Greensteen 1875

This illustration for H. J. Greensteen's poem "De sidste timer," whose maker is unknown, presents a scene etched with fine lines and delicate shading. The composition is neatly divided; land, water, and sky create a sense of vast space within a small frame. A horse standing still, dominates the foreground, drawing our eye to the simple scene. The image is a study in contrasts. The firm lines of the horse and tent anchor us, while the soft, blurred horizon evokes a sense of the infinite. This interplay creates a tension that speaks to the poem's themes of final hours. The formal elements function semiotically. The horse may symbolize labour or freedom. In the context of ‘last hours,’ this simple image invites reflection on time and the ephemeral nature of existence.