Cabin Interior From The Poem The Cloud’s Brother 1897 - 1900

Albert Edelfelt created this cabin interior from "The Cloud's Brother" using graphite and watercolor. The artwork is largely defined by the textural qualities achieved by the blending of these two materials. The dark, earthy tones, achieved through the combination of graphite and watercolor, create a somber mood. The image shows what looks like an interior scene of labor, perhaps even intellectual work. A man sits at a large table with his head in his hand in contemplation, while two other figures work in the background. The rough, uneven surface of the table is strongly emphasized, suggesting the physical labor involved in its construction and also what looks like a basic tool used in the process. Edelfelt’s choice of media, combined with this scene, makes a statement about the dignity of labor, and elevates the everyday to a subject worthy of artistic attention, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.