Søen i granskoven 1901

Hans Julius Fæster made this image of a lake in a spruce forest sometime around 1905, using an etching technique. You can see how the process of layering and mark-making builds up the tonal range and gives it a real depth. The dark, dense textures of the trees and foliage contrast with the smooth expanse of the water. The reflections in the water are not just copies of the landscape, but blurry doppelgangers. I’m drawn to the reeds in the foreground, they are bending and swaying, caught in a moment of stillness, before the wind starts to blow again. This piece reminds me of Whistler’s etchings, the way he captured the mood of the Thames at night, or maybe a little of Corot's landscapes, that same feeling for light and atmosphere. Like so much art, this etching is a reminder that beauty is often found in the quiet, unassuming corners of the world, if only we take the time to look.