Landskab med pløjemark; t.h. høje træer 1880s

Hans Smidth created this landscape drawing with pencil on paper, held at the SMK. At first glance, you're struck by the balance between open space and detailed rendering. A vast, pale field dominates the foreground, countered by the cluster of trees to the right. Consider how Smidth employs line and texture to create depth. The horizontal lines subtly suggest the furrows of a ploughed field, leading our eye to the distant horizon. These receding lines meet with the verticality of the trees which are rendered with a denser network of lines. This contrast is more than just a visual trick. It speaks to the philosophical engagement with nature—the balance between human intervention and the wild, untamed aspects of the natural world. The composition invites us to consider our place within the landscape. It suggests a semiotic system where fields represent cultivation and trees symbolize the enduring force of nature. In this interplay, Smidth doesn't offer fixed meanings, but instead opens up a space for contemplation.