Skovstudie 1831 - 1852

This is a pencil drawing by Dankvart Dreyer, titled "Skovstudie," or "Forest Study," now in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The artist has used the simplest and most direct of means: graphite on paper, allowing for the rapid notation of a wooded scene. But don't let that apparent simplicity fool you. Think of the vast resources devoted to the commodification of drawing, even in the mid-19th century. From graphite mining and milling to the production of paper and its distribution through robust trade networks, seemingly modest drawings are in fact emblems of material culture. Here, the artist's hand has deftly captured the texture, light, and atmosphere of the forest. The pencil's marks, barely-there in some areas, more assertive in others, suggest the depth and density of the woods. The immediacy of the medium allows us to feel as though we are standing alongside Dreyer, sharing his experience of the natural world. It’s important to remember that even the most straightforward of artistic acts—making a drawing—is bound up with issues of labor, consumption, and the broader social world.