Den store marine på Capri 1836

Christen Købke created this understated drawing titled, "The large marine at Capri", using pencil. The sketch presents us with a composition divided into three horizontal bands; the sky, the sea and the land. The artist arranges the boats as a focal point, anchoring the composition. The linear perspective draws our eyes towards the mountains in the distance. The sketch is rendered with delicate lines which reveal subtle modulations of light and shadow. The formal structure of the artwork evokes a serene emotional response, and a sense of contemplative observation. Købke destabilizes traditional landscape painting by focusing on the ordinary and mundane aspects of the scene rather than idealized or grand elements. He challenges the prevailing artistic conventions of his time, inviting us to reconsider our understanding of beauty.