To bondehuse ved sø med ænder 1916

Axel Holm made this etching of two farmhouses by a lake with ducks, sometime between 1861 and 1935. I love the gentle, dark strokes, and the density of the mark-making, and wonder what it was like to create this serene rural idyll. Holm builds up this world stroke by stroke, as if he’s slowly building a brick wall. The effect isn’t photorealism but evokes a strong sense of place. It reminds me of the kinds of prints that were published in books at the time. Look at the subtle reflections on the surface of the lake! Isn’t it wonderful? There’s a stillness to it, but also a sense of movement, of nature in flux. When I look at this image, I imagine the artist sitting by the lake, carefully observing the light, the shadows, and the way the water reflects the sky. He is one of many artists in conversation across time.