Figurskitser 1879 - 1910

This is a pencil drawing called "Figurskitser" by Oluf Hartmann, and it is currently held at the SMK. The drawing presents a seemingly chaotic array of figures sketched onto the page. Hartmann's use of line is restless, with overlapping strokes creating a sense of movement and instability. The composition lacks a clear focal point, inviting the eye to wander across the surface. The structural arrangement of the figures suggests an attempt to capture fleeting moments, freezing the artist's cognitive process. The stark contrast between the light paper and the dark pencil evokes a sense of immediacy, while the fragmented forms destabilize traditional notions of portraiture. This hints at broader philosophical concerns regarding representation and perception. Hartmann seems to engage with the idea that the essence of a subject lies not in its fixed form, but in the dynamic interplay of lines and shapes.