Skitse af Kommandør Købkes hustru Jacobine, født Feilberg 1836 - 1839

Christen Købke rendered this sketch of Commander Købke’s wife, Jacobine Feilberg, in pencil on paper. The composition, dominated by the figure’s placement slightly off-center, evokes a sense of intimate observation. Notice how the artist uses light and shadow, even in this preliminary sketch, to define form and space. The delicate linework captures the sitter's likeness and hints at the texture of her clothing, yet it also reveals the artist’s process. Købke's use of minimal yet precise strokes embodies a formalist approach. The lack of color directs our attention to the underlying structure. The work invites reflection on the nature of representation and the artistic gaze, challenging fixed notions. It remains open to interpretation and further development.