Freyja and Svipdag 1911

John Bauer created this drawing of Freyja and Svipdag, but the date isn't known. It’s rendered in a monochrome palette with such delicate and precise marks. It makes me think about the intense focus involved in artmaking as a process. The texture is created by layering fine lines, giving depth and volume to the figures and their surroundings. Look at Freyja’s flowing hair, for example, which is crafted with individual strands that somehow create a sense of ethereal movement. The way the artist uses line to depict light and shadow makes you feel like you could almost reach out and touch the fabric of Svipdag’s cloak or the cool metal of his helmet. It’s interesting to see how Bauer uses these meticulous techniques to tell a story of love and longing, and that attention to detail invites us to slow down and consider our own perceptions. Artists like Aubrey Beardsley are a reminder that art is a never-ending conversation. The beauty of art is that it embraces ambiguity, and lets us, the viewers, bring our own stories to the table.