Stubmølle ved Køge 1898

Curator: Looking at Albert Gottschalk's "Stubmølle ved Køge," completed in 1898, I'm immediately struck by its rather somber mood. Editor: Somber indeed. The muted palette certainly contributes, but for me, it's also the composition. That weighty windmill dominates the scene, almost pressing down on the small outbuilding. It feels…overbearing. Curator: Well, Gottschalk was painting during a period of immense industrial and social change. Consider that windmills, once vital to local economies, were being rendered obsolete by steam power. Perhaps that "overbearing" quality you sense reflects anxieties about a disappearing way of life. Editor: Interesting. I'm still stuck on the formal qualities. The rough brushstrokes, the impasto of the paint… It feels unfinished in places. It's hardly the smooth, polished realism you often see. Curator: Right, Gottschalk was clearly influenced by Impressionism and the plein-air approach, focusing on capturing the immediate impression of light and atmosphere. This wasn't just about documentation; it was about capturing a feeling. The location, by the way, is Koge, a coastal town with an agricultural tradition; I think the choice of representing an outmoded stubmill plays into the feeling you sensed, of melancholic impermanence. Editor: I do see it now. The slightly askew angle of the windmill's supports contributes to the same effect, that feeling of impending obsolescence. But still, there’s a raw energy in the brushwork that belies the potentially sentimental subject matter. Curator: Absolutely. And it’s important to remember the context. Landscape painting in Denmark was gaining prominence, seen as a way to foster national identity during a period of political tension. This is an elegy, but also an affirmation of the Danish countryside. Editor: So, beneath the gloomy palette and seemingly rough technique, we see a meditation on progress and preservation, painted onto the landscape itself. Fascinating. Curator: Precisely. Gottschalk manages to blend a nostalgic sensibility with a forward-thinking painterly approach. A potent combination.