Drillepeer 1872

Curator: Here we have "Drillepeer," a whimsical engraving and print crafted by Lorenz Frølich back in 1872, now housed in the SMK, Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: Well, my immediate impression is one of unbridled joy! There’s something wonderfully carefree in the scrawling, energetic lines, like a happy memory fading around the edges. Curator: Exactly! Frølich often brought such narratives to life. Here, three children are the central focus—a boy holding up what seems to be a homemade toy, a "Drillepeer," with two younger children gazing up in amusement or perhaps admiration. The whole scene is positively brimming with movement and innocent delight, isn’t it? Editor: The composition directs our gaze beautifully, starting from the children's faces up towards that curious toy. It’s fascinating how the artist has used relatively simple lines to convey a sense of depth. Notice also how that open doorway and the slightly blurred background hint at a larger, accessible world just beyond. What could the “Drillepeer” symbolize, I wonder? A fleeting moment of childhood creativity, perhaps? Curator: It strikes me more like…well, childhood, unfiltered! The way the children are rendered feels so immediate. You can almost feel their exuberance! There's an honesty, a directness to it that I find incredibly refreshing, you know? It steers clear of saccharine sentimentality, doesn't it? Editor: You’re spot on; the raw sketch-like quality of the engraving lends it authenticity. Frølich expertly utilizes chiaroscuro to define shapes and create this captivating atmosphere—I like the clever positioning of figures against the light to amplify the contrast. A nice move, indeed. Curator: It really captures that essence of youthful imagination, which remains undeterred, no matter how the world changes around us. Editor: It's an insightful work! That contrast between technique and youthful subject invites multiple readings and keeps my mind active. I find something different each time I return to it.