"Gotisk" scene. En skjald spiller harpe for to børn i en tronstol 1927 - 1929

This scene, sketched by Martinus Rørbye, probably with pen and ink, and maybe some watercolour, imagines a bard playing harp for two children in a throne. I can almost see Rørbye’s hand moving, sketching out the scene with bold strokes, layer upon layer. What was he thinking as he conjured up this vision? Perhaps he was thinking of a mythical past, trying to bring it to life, through imagination, for a contemporary audience. Notice the way the ink bleeds slightly, creating soft edges and subtle tonal shifts. See how the light catches the harp's strings. It reminds me of the way other artists, like Delacroix, sought inspiration in historical themes. But in his own way. Artists are always in conversation, even across centuries. They spark ideas in one another. And, like a good painting, they can spark ideas in us, too.