Smalsund, Mandal 1858

Amaldus Nielsen created this landscape of Smalsund, Mandal, using oil paints and brushes. The very act of painting, building up layers of pigment on a flat surface, has a strong impact on how we understand the scene. The brushwork and colours evoke the dampness of the coast, and the texture of the aged, weathered timbers of the landing. The painting reminds us that images are made from stuff, and not simply windows onto the world. Nielsen’s hand is present throughout, guiding the flow of our vision. Consider the labour involved in creating a painting like this: from grinding and mixing pigments, and the time involved in painting, to that of the carpenters, sawmill workers, and loggers who built the landing itself. By acknowledging these efforts, we can appreciate the full story that this landscape tells. It is not just a pretty view, but a testament to the many forms of labour and making that shape our world.