Besøg Hos Bedstemor 1914

Hans Andersen Brendekilde made this painting, Besøg Hos Bedstemor, which translates to Visiting Grandma, with oil on canvas. The color palette is so muted, everything is soft, it’s like seeing the world through a filter, which I appreciate. Look at the way Brendekilde layers the paint to create the old plaster walls of the house. There is such a buildup of texture that it almost feels like you could reach out and touch it. And see the way the light catches those ridges, creating shadows? It’s like the paint itself is telling a story of time passing and aging. In contrast, the little girl and her grandmother are rendered with a delicate touch. I love the way that the artist brings in the chickens to create a focal point, even though everything else seems so still. Brendekilde reminds me of someone like Vilhelm Hammershøi, who also depicted quiet, intimate scenes of everyday life, but with a distinct Danish sensibility. Art is a conversation, right?