Kompositionsstudie med bevinget hest (Pegasus?) samt komposition med tre figurer, to siddende og en stående 1913 - 1914

Editor: This is a sketchbook page by J.A. Jerichau from 1913-1914, featuring two separate sketches done in colored pencil and watercolor. The upper sketch depicts a winged horse. I am struck by the swift, almost frantic application of color. What catches your eye? Curator: Immediately, the relationship between line and wash. Observe how the watercolor bleeds beyond the contours of the pencil drawing, destabilizing the form. Notice, too, how Jerichau employs contrasting washes: cool grays above warm browns and greens. Is this intended to create spatial depth, or merely to differentiate formal elements? Editor: It's interesting that you mention the blurring of form. I initially read that as a lack of precision but perhaps it's more intentional. Do you think the adjacent figures shed any light on that formal choice? Curator: Potentially. Consider the relationship between the rounded arch above Pegasus, versus the loose, watery "base" of the seated figures. The tension established through discordant treatment of edges suggests a study in states of being, caught between definable form and the ambiguity of color, an uncertainty. It almost speaks of the inherent limitations of representation itself. Editor: So, you're saying it’s less about accurately depicting figures and more about the qualities of line and color and how they interact. Curator: Precisely. Reflect on the stark economy of line. Is Jerichau seeking to merely *record* an image, or to interrogate the very nature of image making? The placement on the page itself further reinforces the preliminary state, as if testing both form and relationship simultaneously. Editor: I see that now! I initially wanted to understand what it meant, but thinking about how it’s made gives me a totally different view. Curator: Yes, shifting perspective is paramount. Today, we have explored how close observation and formal analysis unlock new avenues of insight.