Udkast til fontæne 1903

Viggo Johansen made this study for a fountain with graphite on paper; it’s like he’s thinking aloud about his subject. He’s got a few different versions going on, a process of trial, error, and intuition that feels very painterly to me, even in drawing. I sympathize with Viggo, imagining him in his studio, wrestling with this idea. What’s so cool is that he’s not just copying what’s in front of him; he’s really trying to get at the essence of a fountain, the way the water moves and the figures interact. The lines are so delicate and searching, you can almost feel him thinking through his hand. Look at the figures, how they stretch and reach, and the water bursts forth. I feel this energetic, sensual intention. It reminds me of Rodin's sketches, where the lines just explode with possibility. It’s like he's saying, "Here's an idea, let's see where it goes," inviting us into his creative process. It’s a reminder that art is often about the journey, the exploration, not just the final destination, an ongoing exchange of ideas across time, inspiring creativity, where ambiguity embraces multiple interpretations.