Katedraali, sisäkuva 1894 - 1895

Magnus Enckell created this watercolor study of a cathedral’s interior with simple strokes and washes. The church’s architecture, usually crafted from heavy stone blocks, is here rendered with the bare minimum of material. The quickness of the strokes creates a stark contrast between the supposed permanence of the church and the transient feel of the painting. We can see how the watercolor has been used to create the arches and the pillars, with soft brown shades, using the white of the paper to capture light. Enckell is engaging here with a tradition of watercolor painting as a rapid method of recording impressions, prioritizing immediacy over laborious detail. The use of watercolor here also flattens the grand scale of the architecture, making it more accessible and intimate. It invites us to see the sacred space with fresh eyes, beyond its intended message of power. The accessibility of the material and the simplicity of its application speak to the democratization of art, making it available for all.