Interior. Artificial Light 1909

Vilhelm Hammershøi made this painting of an interior space, probably with oil paints. It’s so dark, almost monochromatic, a symphony of blacks and grays. I imagine Hammershøi in his studio, mixing those subtle shades, trying to capture the way light flickers off the surfaces of the furniture. I like the way he’s pushed and pulled the paint, layering thin glazes to create depth and atmosphere. There’s a quietness, a stillness to the scene. The two candles are a little gesture of hope, a small offering of light. It reminds me a bit of James McNeill Whistler's nocturnes, but with a Scandinavian twist. You know, like, what is he thinking about as he makes this? Was he trying to record the way light falls in a room, or was he thinking about something else entirely? I wonder if Hammershøi knew Whistler? Maybe they were in dialogue with one another across Europe. That’s how painting works, you know; we all bounce ideas off each other, across time and space.