En færge over Gudenåen 1910 - 1917

Hans Smidth made this painting of a ferry on the Gudenåen River with oil on canvas, and what strikes me first is how he’s captured this quiet moment, likely sometime in the 1800's, using a very subdued palette of greens, browns, and creams. I’m particularly drawn to the way the light interacts with the water. You can see how Smidth has used thin, almost translucent layers of paint to capture the reflections and the subtle ripples on the surface. And then, there's that one spot, just below the ferry, where the water shimmers with a slightly brighter, almost golden hue. It’s a small detail, but it brings the whole scene to life. Thinking about other artists who play with light and atmosphere like this, I’m reminded of some of the Hudson River School painters. But where they go big and dramatic, Smidth keeps it intimate, personal, and, dare I say, a little bit melancholic. Art, for me, is like a conversation across time, with everyone chipping in their two cents.