Der blev den livet op... 1928

Fritz Syberg made this drawing of an interior scene with pen and ink. Just look at these densely hatched lines, building up the forms and shadows. You can almost see the artist's hand moving quickly across the page, trying to capture the scene before it shifts. It's like Syberg is sketching his way through thought. The scribbled lines that form the figures, furniture, and the words in the margin, they all feel connected, like a stream of consciousness. I imagine him sitting there, pen in hand, observing the scene and scribbling down what he sees and feels. What were his thoughts as he made these marks? What was it like to be in that room with him? The way the pen scratches across the paper creates a sense of immediacy, as if the scene is unfolding before our eyes. It's like Syberg is inviting us to join him in his process of seeing and thinking. It reminds me of other artists who use drawing as a way to explore the world, like Cy Twombly or even Philip Guston. Artists are always having conversations with each other, across time and space.