Landskab med vand i baggrunden og hus t.h. 1820s

Martinus Rørbye made this landscape, with water in the background and a house to the right, using watercolor on paper. The thin washes of pigment give a tremendous sense of light and atmosphere. Notice how Rørbye has allowed the white of the paper to shine through, creating a sense of luminosity. Watercolor can often be seen as less important than painting in oils, or sculpture, but that’s a mistake. It’s a portable and immediate medium, perfect for capturing a fleeting impression. The quick, sure marks of the brush suggest that Rørbye likely painted this “en plein air,” right on the spot. It has the feeling of an intimate encounter, something seen and registered in a matter of moments. Thinking about this, the traditional distinction between “high art” and more humble practices like watercolor becomes less convincing. What matters is the artist’s vision, and their skill in using materials to bring that vision to life.