Heste på "Kirkegården", Saltholm 1889

Theodor Philipsen created this sketch, “Heste på "Kirkegården", Saltholm,” with graphite on paper. Philipsen was a Danish painter, who was initially influenced by animal painters, but later, he became one of the first Impressionists of Denmark. He visited Salthom frequently. This intimate sketch shows horses grazing peacefully on the island. The landscape, with its minimal horizon line and expansive sky, evokes a sense of serene isolation. The artist's choice to depict working horses in their natural environment is a reflection of the changing socio-economic landscape of Denmark at the time. This connects to the idea of the rural population's close relationship with the land and animals. The rough, unfinished quality of the sketch emphasizes its documentary aspect, capturing a transient moment in the daily lives of these animals and the environment they inhabit. It invites us to consider our relationship with nature.