En bondemand med en knippe brænde på ryggen 1845

This etching of a farmer with firewood was created by Johannes Wilhelm Zillen, and it now resides at the SMK. The composition is dominated by the stooped figure of the farmer. Zillen's use of fine, closely spaced lines creates a sense of depth and texture, particularly in the depiction of the rough terrain and the farmer's heavily laden back. The stark contrast between the etched lines and the blank paper serves to highlight the figure's struggle against the elements. The etching's formal qualities, like line and contrast, evoke the harsh realities of rural life. It's a narrative not just of labor but of a deeper relationship with the land. We're invited to contemplate how these etched lines capture not merely an image, but a commentary on existence. The farmer's form and the land he walks on become signs which connect the material conditions of life with the artist’s commentary on resilience and the human spirit.