Beskrivelse og farveangivelser til maleri med Dante og Beatrice 1913 - 1914

This page of description and color notations relating to a painting with Dante and Beatrice was made by J.A. Jerichau around the turn of the century, probably using ink on paper. The artist’s handwriting fills the upper portion of the page. Imagine them, pausing to write in the midst of their painting practice. What colors were they using to paint Dante’s face? What did Beatrice's dress look like? You can sense the artist's eye at work, trying to record something so that they can return to it later. It makes me think about the way artists build on their past ideas, revisiting and refining their vision over time. I love that artists can have this sort of conversation with each other, across time and space. It reminds me that making art is about asking questions and exploring possibilities, rather than just finding answers.