Bedtime at the Shelter 1901

Jens Birkholm made this shadowy painting, Bedtime at the Shelter, with oils, but the date is unknown. The painting is super dark, so the light seems to emanate from within the figures themselves, kind of like they’re glowing from the inside. Birkholm lays the paint on pretty thick, and you can almost feel the texture of the brushstrokes. Look at the guy on the right, the old man, the stark contrast between light and dark in his face and body is just gorgeous! The way the light catches on his beard… This reminds me of Rembrandt's use of light and shadow, there is a very similar feeling of deep humanity. Overall, there’s something really intimate and vulnerable about it, like we’re getting a peek into a world most people don’t see. And honestly, it’s kinda beautiful in its own strange way.