I skoven 1846

Sophus Schack created 'I skoven' using graphite on paper, a process that might seem worlds away from heavy industry, but let’s consider the relationship between the two. Graphite itself, though naturally occurring, must be mined and processed. Paper too, even in Schack’s time, relied on increasingly industrialized production. This subtle drawing, with its delicate depiction of nature, belies its connection to a larger economic system. Schack's technique is meticulous, building up tone through countless tiny marks, demanding time and skill. Note how he creates depth and texture, using the graphite to mimic the very materials he depicts – the rough bark of trees, the soft light filtering through leaves. It’s easy to overlook these connections, preferring to see art as separate from the world of labor and economics. But by attending to the materials and processes behind 'I skoven,' we can appreciate how even the most seemingly innocent artwork is embedded in a web of social and economic relations. It challenges us to reconsider what we classify as 'fine art', and what we consider as craft.