To hekse slås om et kosteskaft 1908

Oluf Hartmann made this small print called 'Two Witches Fighting over a Broomstick' using an etching technique. What immediately strikes you is its monochromatic palette, dominated by deep blacks and subtle grays. The figures emerge from a dense, almost impenetrable darkness, creating a sense of mystery and unease. Hartmann uses stark contrasts to define form, but the lack of clear outlines blurs the boundaries between the figures and their surroundings. This obscuring effect can be linked to the Symbolist movement, which sought to evoke moods and psychological states rather than depicting the external world realistically. The very structure of the image challenges fixed meanings, presenting a world where forms are fluid and meanings are ambiguous. The dynamism in the composition, with the witches contorted in struggle, adds to the dramatic tension. Ultimately, it invites us to contemplate the darker, more irrational aspects of the human psyche, continuing to provoke thought and debate.