The Painter Sigurd Swane 1908 - 1912

Harald Giersing made this oil painting of another painter, Sigurd Swane, in Denmark. Look at the strokes of the brush, swirling and solid. You can see the movement of Giersing's hand, as he tries to get the likeness of his friend. I love the gesture of the painter's hand on his face, it speaks of deep thought and concentration. He looks exhausted by the demands of the painting. The limited palette really emphasizes the mood. It feels kind of somber, moody, like he’s questioning his own existence. You can see Giersing was trying to figure out the essence of another artist in his time. Painters are in an ongoing conversation with each other. Each artist adds a verse, maybe refutes a line or two, but all are part of the same poem. Each interpretation is valid.