Skov ved solnedgang 1889

Hans Smidth’s “Skov ved solnedgang” is an oil painting that shows a forest at sunset. Smidth has deployed the traditional materials of canvas and oil paint, which were commercially manufactured and readily available by the late nineteenth century. The canvas gives the painting texture, which is enhanced by the way that Smidth has applied the paint. The brushstrokes create depth and shadow, adding to the sense of a living forest. The subtle gradations of color, from deep greens to golden yellows, invite us to imagine the act of painting in the open air. We can appreciate the labor that went into the work. While the scene is tranquil, the solitary figure carrying a load on his back hints at the working life beyond the canvas frame. Smidth asks us to reconsider the relationship between art and life, inviting us to look closely at the materials and methods that give painting its unique power.