Gående Bjørn 1933

Christian Kongstad Petersen made this work, Gående Bjørn (Walking Bear), on paper with charcoal, at some point in his lifetime. I love that Petersen's put down some really quick, really sure marks. He’s not being fussy, but kind of letting the charcoal and the movement of his hand do its thing, which tells me, right away, that this is about process. There are thick, dark lines defining the bear’s body, really bold, then other areas where it’s more rubbed in, softer, like he’s smudging the charcoal with his fingers. Look at the top of the bear’s head – you can almost feel the soft give of the charcoal. But it’s not just about technique, it’s like Petersen's letting us in on his own way of seeing, or feeling, the animal. Think about Picasso’s animal drawings, there’s a similar energy and humor. These images invite us to see the world in new and unexpected ways. They don’t give us all the answers, and that’s what makes them so exciting.