Og den kalkunske Hane... 1928

This drawing of a turkey and other fowl was made by Fritz Syberg, but we don’t know exactly when, or with what, though I’m guessing it was a pen. Look at the way he hasn’t labored to render the scene, but seems to have grabbed it quickly, spontaneously. That, to me, is where the aliveness of a work lives. The scene is composed with brisk, confident lines. The turkey, rendered with a flurry of strokes, dominates the left side. I really enjoy the cross hatching that defines form and shadow, notice how he deploys this technique to describe the volume of the dog house. The hurried, slightly agitated marks give it an energy and informality, like a snapshot or a quick sketch from life. Syberg's light touch reminds me of some of Bonnard's drawings, casual but full of information. The beauty here is in its openness, its willingness to suggest rather than dictate, which is something I always aim for in my own practice.