Kronborg 1904

Albert Gottschalk made this painting of Kronborg with what looks like oil on canvas, and it’s currently located at the SMK. The monochrome palette of the painting emphasises mark-making as a process of layering and excavation, building up and scraping away at the image’s surface. Look closely, and you'll see how the texture of the paint creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The impasto technique is evident in the sky, where thick daubs of paint create a sense of turbulent atmosphere. The physicality of the medium is foregrounded; we see not only an image of the castle but a record of the artist's gestures. Notice the vertical strokes, like drips, down the side of the castle wall. Are these actually drips or a record of the artist wiping away? Gottschalk's work reminds me of Whistler's nocturnes in its exploration of atmosphere and light, but there's also a raw, unpolished quality that feels very contemporary. Like all good art, this piece embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the table.