En glad sømand 1820 - 1902

Adolph Kittendorff created this colour lithograph titled "En glad sømand" whose date is unknown, but the work is held at the SMK. The composition is dominated by the figure of a smiling sailor, set against a dark backdrop that throws his cheerful affect into sharp relief. Kittendorff's use of light and shadow not only sculpts the sailor's features but also directs our attention to the textures of his clothes and the gleam of his pipe, thus creating a dynamic visual experience. The choice of lithography introduces its own structural elements. The layering of colours gives depth to the image, while the inherent flatness of the print medium subtly emphasizes the constructed nature of the scene. The sailor’s obvious joy might initially appear straightforward, but consider the formal structure: the sharp contrasts and careful arrangement, creating a commentary on the construction of such imagery. Kittendorff masterfully uses form to prompt us to consider what structures underpin our understanding of joy.