Kristus og Nikodemus 1919

Joakim Skovgaard made this drawing of Christ and Nicodemus in 1919. The ink feels immediate, like a quick sketch, capturing a quiet moment between these two figures. It's all about the process of mark-making. Looking closely, the cross-hatching defines their robes and faces, giving them volume with just simple lines. See how the light seems to come from nowhere and everywhere. The texture of the paper becomes part of the image, doesn’t it? The way Skovgaard uses these simple means, the starkness of the ink, is interesting. It reminds me a bit of Käthe Kollwitz, that German expressionist, who also worked with stark black and white to convey emotional depth and social themes. Both artists embrace the ambiguity of art, letting the viewer bring their own understanding to the work.