Soldaten besøger sin gamle mor 1933

Christian Kongstad Petersen made this understated drawing of a soldier visiting his old mother with pencil on paper. The stark lines and limited tonal range gives it the quality of an intimate snapshot. It's interesting how he's left certain parts unfinished, allowing the eye to complete the scene. You can feel the tentative quality of the marks, the sketchy lines almost trembling on the page. Look at the parallel lines suggesting the folds of the mother's skirt and how they mirror the verticality of her posture. There is a vulnerability in this drawing, amplified by the minimal color palette. It reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker who also focused on the intimate and everyday scenes of women and children. Both artists are united through their deft use of line and their ability to make the ordinary profound. Art allows us to see the world in new ways, focusing our attention on the small, tender moments that might otherwise pass us by.