Blyantsrids og penneprøve 1842

This is "Blyantsrids og penneprøve" by Johan Thomas Lundbye, a pencil and pen drawing on paper. The faint lines and sparse composition give an immediate sense of fragility. Lundbye's work appears almost as a palimpsest, where layers of sketches are superimposed, revealing the artist’s process. This relates to the broader structuralist idea that the surface of a work contains deeper, underlying systems of meaning. It's not just about what is depicted, but how the act of depiction itself conveys meaning. The lines appear tentative, almost like a semiotic system where each mark is a signifier searching for its signified. The incompleteness here, might challenge the traditional artistic values of representation, suggesting a shift towards the process of creation as the focal point. The lack of resolution emphasizes the work’s formal qualities as a study in line and form rather than a finished illustration. This transforms our understanding of art from being a product to an ongoing process, perpetually open to reinterpretation.