Strandvarslet og Kirkegrimen 1921

Curator: Let's talk about Niels Skovgaard’s pen and ink drawing, "Strandvarslet og Kirkegrimen," created in 1921. It resides here at the SMK, Statens Museum for Kunst. What strikes you first? Artist: Darkness. Ominous, gothic darkness! It feels like a Grimm fairy tale, all shadows and lurking things. Is that supposed to be a graveyard? It feels so oppressive. Curator: Indeed. It's a cemetery, a liminal space between worlds, reflected in the folklore and narrative embedded in this piece. Skovgaard deeply engages with Danish cultural identity. The "Strandvarslet" or shore warning refers to a phantom creature of folklore predicting coastal misfortune. And the "Kirkegrimen," that’s the church grim, a guardian spirit tied to the church itself. Artist: Guardian, huh? He looks more like a menacing troll than a friendly protector. Bent posture and staring eyes—brrr! Though I must admit, the intricacy of the ink work, all those tiny lines creating textures is rather masterful. Curator: Skovgaard was exceptionally skilled with line. He studied with masters, travelled widely in Europe, and felt that studying nature was the cornerstone of becoming a better artist. It is believed this is inspired by local folk tales, passed on from generation to generation about coastal disasters. Artist: That explains the slightly unsettling feel. It feels rooted. There’s an honesty in how he captures not just the landscape but something deeper, the shared fears and anxieties of a community, perhaps a bit like seeing collective nightmares depicted in the cold light of day. I feel shivers run down my spine. Curator: Absolutely. It's more than just skillful rendering; it’s cultural storytelling given visual form. The way Skovgaard positions the viewer, almost like a voyeuristic ghost, peering into this hidden, haunted world adds layers. Artist: It definitely does. Art historical or emotionally driven, the pen drawing evokes a distinct moment from the past—as in those strange cemetery figures were once real to people; not reality but experience captured by a single picture. Very dark. Very wonderful.