"De store Tider er inde - og en skøn Kunst venter os". Blyantsnotat 1916

J.A. Jerichau (II) created this pencil annotation, "De store Tider er inde - og en skøn Kunst venter os" or "The great times are in - and a beautiful Art awaits us," on a sheet of paper. The simplicity of the materials - graphite on paper - is deceptive. Graphite, a form of carbon, has been used for centuries to create quick, direct marks, allowing for the intimate transfer of thought to paper. The visible strokes capture a fleeting moment, a raw and unedited expression. The act of writing itself is labor. Jerichau carefully chose each word, each stroke imbued with intention. The artist's hand is evident in the very texture of the writing, showcasing both skill and the physical act of inscription. By focusing on these elements - the immediacy of graphite, the texture of the paper, the labor inherent in the inscription - we see how the traditional dichotomy between fine art and craft blurs. This work reminds us that the meaning of art resides not just in the image but also in the materiality and the process of its making.