Maleren og billedhuggeren Joakim Skovgaard 1910 - 1911

This bronze bust of Joakim Skovgaard was made by Johannes Kragh, sometime in the early twentieth century. You can really see Kragh’s hand in this piece. It's not just a smooth, polished surface; you get the sense of the artist's fingers working the clay, pressing and shaping the form. Look at the beard. It’s a mass of textures, and you can almost feel the weight and density of the material. Then, the contrast with the smoother treatment of the face is wonderful. You can see the deep lines etched around the eyes, and the way the light catches the cheekbones. It’s a dance between rough and smooth, light and shadow, that gives the sculpture its dynamism. Thinking about Rodin, especially his busts, comes to mind, but there’s also something very grounded and Danish about this. It's a conversation across time and materials, an ongoing exploration of what it means to capture a likeness and a spirit in art.