Selvportræt med kalv 1910

Here we have a small sketch, ‘Self-Portrait with Calf,’ by Theodor Philipsen. It's all about the lines, isn’t it? Quick, gestural marks that seem to dance across the page. There’s something so alive about the way he captures the scene. It’s like a snapshot of a moment, but one that’s filtered through his own hand and eye. It’s not about perfection, but about feeling. Look at the calf's head! It’s just a few simple lines, but you get a sense of its weight, the curve of its body. And then there’s Philipsen himself, standing at his easel, his arm moving, his hat perched on his head. You can almost feel the energy of the moment, the way the artist is caught up in the act of creating. For me, it’s like a conversation between the artist, the subject, and the viewer. Like a little window into his world. It reminds me of other artists who were exploring similar themes, like, maybe, Pissarro. They were all trying to capture the fleeting beauty of everyday life. And they were doing it with a sense of freedom, like they were just letting the marks flow out of them.