De to børn fanger sommerfugle 1868

This delicate drawing, "De to børn fanger sommerfugle" or "The Two Children Catching Butterflies," was made by Lorenz Frølich sometime in the 19th century. It is executed with brown ink on paper. The image is alive with spontaneous energy, made possible by the artist's mastery of the pen. Frølich's draftsmanship evokes the feeling of a quick sketch from life. The cross-hatching and fine lines work together to create a sense of light and shadow, as well as texture. The contrast between the delicate rendering of the children and the more gestural marks in the surrounding landscape adds to the scene's dynamism. The drawing reflects the era's interest in capturing fleeting moments of everyday life. Frølich elevates a seemingly simple pastime, imbuing it with artistic merit. This reflects a broader trend of valuing not just grand historical subjects, but also the intimate experiences of childhood and nature, a shift in aesthetic values with echoes to this day.