Skolehuset 

Theodor Severin Kittelsen made this ink drawing, Skolehuset, using paper and ink. The marks are quickly applied, and the drawing is immediate. But the subject matter gives us pause: this isn't a grand vista, but a humble hut. It’s built of rough timbers, stacked horizontally. We can imagine the labor that went into felling trees and hewing them into shape, a slow and physically demanding process. Kittelsen was deeply invested in Norwegian folk culture, so this is likely a scene he knew well, a modest rural building in its forested setting. The stark black and white of the drawing underscores the hardscrabble nature of the scene, the labor-intensive work of building and maintaining a home in a remote area. Ultimately, Kittelsen's choice of subject and his direct, unembellished style elevate the everyday, reminding us of the dignity inherent in simple living.