Overlæge C.V. Zahrtmann 1930

Peter Ilsted made this photogravure, Overlæge C.V. Zahrtmann, at an unknown date, but there's a date on the book, so who knows? The first thing you notice is probably the tonal range, it's limited, it's all about these moody grays, like a fog rolling in. Look at the way the light falls on the man’s face and hands. It’s almost sculptural, the way the shadows define the forms. You can feel the weight of the book in his hands, the texture of the paper, the way his brow furrows in concentration. It’s like Ilsted is inviting us into this quiet, intimate moment. The book cover has very specific markmaking to convey its graphic look, and this in contrast to the softness of the face creates some tension for the eye. It reminds me a bit of Whistler's etchings, with that same sense of atmosphere and subtle beauty. But Ilsted brings his own sensibility to it, a kind of quiet intensity that’s all his own. Art is always about seeing, thinking, and feeling, and this piece is like a masterclass in all three.