En mor giver sin 4-5 års dreng bryst 1882

Joakim Skovgaard made this drawing of a mother breastfeeding her young child on paper with graphite. The texture of the paper catches the graphite, creating a range of grays that define the volumes of the figures. Skovgaard allows the blank paper to stand for the lighter tones, and he applies the graphite with varying pressure and density, conjuring the roundness of the figures. The quick, sure lines of the drawing suggest that this was made in one sitting, perhaps as a study for a larger painting. It’s not difficult to imagine the artist rapidly capturing a quiet moment, with a soft pencil as his only tool. While the scene is an intimate one, the drawing itself represents a transition from private life to the public sphere of art. Skovgaard, through his mastery of a simple medium, offers a sensitive depiction of maternal care. This is a reminder that art can be found even in the most everyday scenes.