Mrs Blom 1913 - 1914

Christian Krohg painted Mrs. Blom with oils in an unknown year, but now you can see it here at the SMK. The dominant mood is set by the dark, gestural brushstrokes and limited colour palette. Imagine Krohg, working in his studio, layering the paint, building up Mrs. Blom’s form with each stroke. You can sense him trying to capture not just her likeness, but something of her presence, her inner life. Look at the thickness of the paint, almost sculpted in places, giving a real physicality to the work. That single stroke defining the edge of her hat communicates so much—a blend of confidence and vulnerability. I wonder if Krohg was thinking about Rembrandt when he painted this. There is a shared interest in the psychological depth of the sitter, isn’t there? Painting is, after all, an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time. And it's a conversation that embraces ambiguity and uncertainty.