Musefælden 1857 - 1946

Viggo Jastrau made this etching, Musefælden, with ink on paper. The printmaking process is central here. It allows the artist to play with contrasts through layering and repetition. Look closely, and you'll see how Jastrau has used these techniques to create a ghostly array of bottles and vessels, rendered in shades of grey and black. The arrangement sits like a still life, but with an eerie quality; the objects are not quite tangible. Your eye might be drawn to the lower right corner of the image where a wire birdcage is the home - or trap, as the title suggests - for a small mouse. Jastrau's interest in the uncanny is evident in the work of other Nordic artists of his time, like Edvard Munch. Both artists offer us a glimpse into an emotional landscape that embraces uncertainty, leaving plenty of room for our imaginations to roam.