Hestehaven 1902

Niels Skovgaard made this etching, Hestehaven, sometime in the early 20th century. Look at how the density of marks creates this thicket of trees. This isn't just about representing a forest, but about the very act of mark-making itself. You can almost feel the scratch of the needle across the plate, building up the image with layer upon layer of tiny, deliberate strokes. See how the light filters through the canopy, caught in a tangle of branches? It’s almost like a visual puzzle, where the negative space is just as important as the lines themselves. The texture feels almost velvety, a testament to the artist’s command of the medium. My eye is drawn to the way the lines converge and diverge, creating a sense of depth and movement. Skovgaard reminds me of other printmakers like Whistler, who used etching to explore the nuances of light and atmosphere. Both artists revel in the subtleties of their chosen medium, pushing the boundaries of what it can achieve. Ultimately, this work invites us to slow down, to observe, and to appreciate the beauty of the natural world.