En skovsø 1844 - 1846

Dankvart Dreyer made this drawing, "En skovsø," with pen and brown ink on paper. Rather than the traditional materials of high art, Dreyer is using the everyday materials of writing, tools of accounting, and the rapidly expanding world of commerce. The paper itself has a coarse quality. You can feel the artist's hand moving quickly across the surface, giving the scene a sense of immediacy and spontaneity. Dreyer used different strokes to depict the textures of the landscape, from the delicate lines of the trees to the dense marks of the undergrowth. The social significance of this artwork lies in its ability to capture a fleeting moment in nature. As urbanisation grew, sketches such as this became important reminders of a rural past, one increasingly threatened by the demands of industry and commerce. Dreyer’s drawing allows us to appreciate the inherent value of this scene. It reminds us of the importance of seeing art not only as a commodity, but also as a powerful means of connecting with the world around us.