The Southern Aisle of St. Canute's Church in Odense 1835

Christen Købke made this drawing of the Southern Aisle of St. Canute's Church in Odense, using graphite on paper. The fine lines create a detailed rendering, playing with light and shadow to capture the architecture's grandeur, but consider what is not seen. The graphite itself comes from the earth and the paper from processed wood pulp, both transformed by labor and industry. The church, a product of immense effort by stone masons and artisans, stands as a testament to skilled craftsmanship over generations. Købke’s act of drawing flattens all this intense labor into a quiet, portable image. He emphasizes the aesthetic of the space, but the drawing also unwittingly memorializes the social and economic networks required for both the church's construction and the materials with which he renders the scene. Looking at the built environment through the lens of materials and making opens up broader reflections on labor, production, and consumption, bridging art with social and economic realities.