Sarvikallio, luonnos 1910 - 1912

Eero Järnefelt made this sketch, Sarvikallio, with gentle washes of watercolour. I imagine him standing there, squinting in the sun, trying to capture a fleeting moment. Look how the figures almost dissolve into the pale ground, barely there. It’s like they’re emerging from a dream, or maybe fading away. The one on the right seems like she's in motion, about to turn. It's interesting to look at the artist trying to catch the light, atmosphere, and forms. And with these soft blues and purples, you can almost feel the cool breeze coming off the water. Järnefelt is in conversation with other Nordic painters, like Hammershøi, who also explore these quiet, contemplative scenes. I see them all searching for something beyond the surface, a feeling, a mood, a shared sense of place.