Trollstudie 

Curator: Right, let’s take a look at this rather fascinating study by Theodor Kittelsen entitled, "Trollstudie," an ink drawing of a troll's head. It's so raw! Editor: Yes, a tangle of fur and shadow! Immediately, it strikes me as a study in texture, doesn’t it? You can almost feel the coarse, matted quality of this troll's…mane, if you will. The way the ink is hatched gives so much weight to his shoulders. Curator: Exactly! I think Kittelsen is inviting us to delve deeper into the psychological realm of folklore here. There's something hauntingly familiar in that expression, almost melancholic, wouldn't you say? He looks almost resigned. Editor: Resigned to his existence, perhaps. What's fascinating to me is how economically he has used his materials: ink on paper. What paper? Where was it sourced? And the pen, what kind of nib allowed such variation in the line weight? Curator: That’s an interesting line of inquiry. I hadn’t considered the materiality itself that deeply before, just the pure expressive impact of his dark romantic soul, bleeding onto the page with such directness. Editor: But consider this drawing as a *product*, not just expression. Every mark made on the paper reveals labour. Each choice reflects a cultural context of what materials were available and who could access them. Curator: Fair point! Maybe thinking about the access Kittelsen had, informs the accessibility and widespread appeal of his works—reaching across different social classes—his dark imagery a common cultural touchstone. Editor: Absolutely. Even though it is a sketch it gives you so much insight in the resources, access, and possibilities for the artist himself to perform art. I always appreciate an analysis that keeps process central, while considering the culture this feeds back to! Curator: Indeed! Thank you for offering me that alternative lens on this artwork. It certainly changes my perspective on the artist, as not just a solitary genius, but a part of that historical conversation and context, itself!