Høje, unge træer i gruppe 1873 - 1948

Svend Hammershøi made this drawing, "Høje, unge træer i gruppe," using graphite on paper. This isn't your typical landscape drawing. Notice the starkness of the trees against the bare surroundings; Hammershøi wasn't after picturesque beauty. Instead, he seems interested in the underlying structure. The graphite, applied with varying pressure, captures the skeletal form of the trees. Look closely, and you'll see how the strokes define the density and texture of the branches, as well as the stark, empty fields surrounding them. Drawing like this is often seen as a preparatory step, a way to understand form before painting. But here, the drawing is the final product. This challenges the traditional hierarchy between preparatory sketch and finished artwork, prompting us to consider the value and skill inherent in the act of drawing itself. It reminds us that the process of making is just as important as the final product.