Hougfossen ved Blaa Farve Werket paa Modum 1792

C.A. Lorentzen made this drawing of Hougfossen at Blaafarveværket in Modum using graphite on paper. This is not just a straightforward landscape; it’s an industrial landscape, one that depicts how nature and commerce are deeply intertwined. The graphite gives the image a soft, almost hazy quality, which belies the harsh realities of the industrial site. The textures of the rocks, the rush of the waterfall, the precisely constructed buildings – all rendered with delicate lines. The very act of drawing, with its repetitive strokes and careful layering, mirrors the repetitive labor that took place at the Blaafarveværket cobalt works. Cobalt was a crucial material for coloring glass and ceramics, and the demand fueled intensive mining operations. Lorentzen’s drawing reminds us that even the most beautiful vistas can be shaped by the demands of industry and the labor of many hands. It challenges us to consider how materials, making, and social context come together to shape our world.