Illustration til digt af Erik Bøgh 1855

Carl Bøgh made this illustration to a poem by Erik Bøgh, using pen and ink on paper. The fineness of the lines speaks to the artist's hand control, working with the unforgiving nature of ink to produce intricate details. Note how the quality of the line varies, thickening and thinning to describe the forms and create areas of light and shadow. Look closely at the architectural backdrop and the figures, the line work gives a sense of depth and texture. In this kind of drawing, there's no opportunity to correct mistakes, so the artist needs confidence and careful consideration of each stroke. This piece invites us to appreciate the value of drawing, and the amount of dedicated work needed to create it. It blurs the boundaries between illustration and fine art.