Polyfem kaster sten efter Odysseus' skib 1858 - 1903

Niels Skovgaard sketched "Polyfem kaster sten efter Odysseus' skib" using graphite and ink on paper. The monochromatic palette and the deliberate rawness of the medium suggest a study rather than a finished work, focusing on the act of creation itself. The artist's hand is evident in the energetic lines, capturing the cyclops Polyphemus in mid-action, straining to hurl a rock. Skovgaard used a stark contrast between the densely hatched shading that defines Polyphemus and the boulder, and the lighter, sketchier rendering of the landscape and Odysseus' ship in the background. This contrast draws our attention to the brute force of Polyphemus, highlighting the labor and physical strain involved in his act of rage. The choice of humble materials emphasizes the raw, unrefined nature of the subject matter. It's a great reminder that the materials and processes chosen by an artist are as important as the subject they depict.