Landscape near "Mindet" on Christiansø 1911

Karl Isakson made this landscape near "Mindet" on Christiansø, presumably en plein air, using oil on canvas. The paint is applied in these energetic, visible strokes, like he’s wrestling with the scene, trying to pin down the light and form. Check out the way he builds up the foliage with these short, choppy marks – it’s not about smooth blending, but more about the raw, immediate gesture. There’s a real physicality to it, you can almost feel the brush dancing across the canvas. The painting feels immediate and alive. Look at the lower right corner, where the violet paint sings. The paint is opaque and the violet hues add a freshness to the ochre and green scene. It’s not just a picture, it's an experience. Isakson’s got that Scandinavian knack for capturing a mood. He reminds me of Hammershoi, but with more color! It’s like he’s inviting us to get lost in the process, to see the world not as a fixed thing, but as a series of fleeting impressions.