To får 1868 - 1872

Editor: Here we have "To f\u00e5r," or "Two Sheep" by Niels Skovgaard, dating from 1868 to 1872. It’s an ink drawing on paper. The immediate feeling I get is of something quite humble, like a fleeting glimpse captured in a notebook. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: Humble, yes, that’s a perfect word. It whispers rather than shouts, doesn't it? It reminds me of a Northern Renaissance miniature, yet rendered with the spare, immediate touch of a quick sketch. Skovgaard isn't trying to impress us with technical prowess here. Instead, it’s more about conveying an essential truth of the land. Look at the economy of the line; he's captured the very essence of "sheepness," wouldn't you agree? Editor: I do see what you mean! I suppose the roughness makes it more endearing than a highly polished depiction would. How does it fit into the broader context of his work? Curator: Ah, that's the beauty, isn't it? Skovgaard was, first and foremost, a landscape painter. But these intimate sketches are glimpses into his process, like a musician's scale practice, they provide access to understanding his engagement with nature. Perhaps, he wanted to portray an untouched vision before industrial change erased all of these intimate rural scenes from Denmark. What emotions does this style elicit within you? Editor: A wistful feeling, definitely. It feels almost… protective. I really enjoy its lack of grandeur. Curator: Protective! I love that, the very essence of being pastoral is, I would suggest, rooted in an ambition of protecting nature. It is, I feel, deeply honest and revealing, perhaps a little reminder for all of us. Editor: That’s given me a whole new way of appreciating sketches. Thanks!