A Fountain in Rome 1922

Hans Andersen Brendekilde painted "A Fountain in Rome" at some point, we don't know exactly when, and I think it’s interesting to consider his process. Look at the fountain itself, nestled amongst the foliage, its surface alive with moss. Notice how the light catches the lion statue; the paint handling is so assured. The texture is rough and uneven. It feels like each brushstroke has been deliberately placed to capture the essence of the scene. I love the way he’s used the light here to animate the stone, to make it breathe, you can sense the hand of the artist in every square inch. I’m reminded of Corot, another artist who found beauty in the everyday. Like Corot, Brendekilde coaxes poetry from stone. His picture plane becomes a space of quiet contemplation, inviting us to slow down, and look.