Blakken 1868

Curator: This etching, dating back to 1868, is entitled "Blakken," by H.P. Hansen and now held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: "Blakken"—it feels like a snapshot of pure, unadulterated wilderness. A family of horses faces off with a bear… what do you see here? Curator: The composition reveals a deliberate structural balance. Note the careful arrangement of light and shadow, creating depth. The diagonal lines formed by the landscape lead the eye directly towards the confrontation of animals. Hansen's mark-making also conveys tension in this chance meeting. Editor: Yes, it's all happening at once! The mother looks terrified while bravely shielding her young foal! And that bear, is he dancing, or sizing them up? Maybe both? The line work, while detailed, still captures an elusive dreaminess. Curator: The print's reliance on figuration situates it within an established artistic tradition, while Hansen's specific approach to landscape—seen through his selection of fine strokes—distinguishes this from convention, using traditional methods to capture the drama of a primal conflict in a distinctive style. Editor: It’s a strangely beautiful little apocalypse. Hansen renders these beasts so vividly; each muscle seems ready to either bolt or fight. And knowing this was created in 1868, makes one consider our ever changing relationship with nature… fascinating. Curator: Indeed. This is a solid rendering and representation of an engagement with an idyllic landscape by the artist, H.P. Hansen. Editor: Leaving us with so much to imagine about that meeting and what came next.