Forfaldne bondehuse 1740s

Michael Fosie made this etching called 'Dilapidated Farmhouses', now at the Statens Museum for Kunst. The composition is dominated by a cluster of rural buildings, rendered with a meticulous network of fine lines. Notice how the thatched roofs and crumbling walls are built up through layers of etching, creating a rich, textured surface that almost feels tactile. Fosie masterfully uses line and shadow to evoke a sense of decay and neglect. The scene is not just a depiction of architecture; it is also a commentary on time, ruin, and the transience of human endeavor. The parallel lines in the sky denote the sun's rays, bringing light into the scene. Consider how Fosie's emphasis on detail invites us to contemplate the layers of history embedded in these structures. The etching technique lends itself perfectly to capturing the granular details of weathered materials, emphasizing the poetics of decay. This work makes us reflect on themes of temporality and the marks left by time.