Aa i Borrevejle Skov 1898

Curator: Looking at this, I'm immediately struck by how tranquil and almost secretive it feels. The darkness and the way the light barely cuts through the trees… It's like a hidden world. Editor: Indeed. This is “Aa i Borrevejle Skov,” an etching on paper by Thorvald Niss, dating back to 1898. Niss was quite dedicated to capturing the Danish landscape. What you're picking up on resonates deeply with the period. Curator: Etching, wow. You can really see the detail, right? It’s funny, with it being all greyscale, my mind just starts painting it with muted greens and browns. Did Niss ever work with color, or was he mostly about capturing mood through line and shadow? Editor: Predominantly, he played with these muted tones and suggestive lines; this aligns with the Impressionist sensibilities of the time, focusing on capturing a moment, an atmosphere. Landscape painting offered him, as it did to many others, a conduit to express a deep affection for his homeland, aligning it with emerging national sentiments and the promotion of local tourism. Curator: I can totally see that. It makes you want to wander in and get lost, maybe discover a forgotten folklore character hiding among the trees. You know, that little stream there, reflecting the light…it almost vibrates with energy, a real counterpoint to the quiet of the forest. What would he have hoped people would get from it, do you think? Editor: Art institutions saw value in showcasing these "national" scenes. By experiencing his vision, he invites us to find value in these familiar scapes, aligning viewers' aesthetic appreciation with notions of homeland and shared identity. But personally, I am drawn to its sheer mystery. Curator: Mystery is definitely the right word. And maybe a touch of melancholy. I keep picturing myself standing there, listening to the water trickling. Editor: Precisely, it holds within it stories untold and invitations extended. It beckons reflection, an encounter to embrace quietly. Curator: I'll be thinking about this one for a while. There’s a story hiding in those shadows for sure. Editor: As will I, in terms of how landscapes played, and still play, into forming community ties.