Fragment af blyantsskitse 1917 - 1920

Joakim Skovgaard made this fragment of a pencil sketch sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Look at the controlled yet free movement of the lines, like he is feeling his way around the form, discovering something new with each stroke. I can almost imagine Skovgaard’s hand moving across the paper, trying to capture the essence of the subject, whatever it is. Is it a hat, a shoe, a cloud? The way the pencil marks vary in pressure and direction creates a sense of depth and volume, even though it is just a sketch. It makes me think about other artists who have used drawing as a way to explore and understand the world. The unfinished quality reminds us that art is often about the process of inquiry rather than the final product. Each mark is a record of a decision, an exploration, a moment of seeing. It's as if Skovgaard is inviting us into his studio, into his way of seeing.