Studie til Diogenes (?) 1879 - 1910

Oluf Hartmann created this study for Diogenes with pencil and wash on paper. The composition is fragmented, offering multiple perspectives of the figures. The stark contrast between the dark wash and the delicate pencil lines creates a visual tension. We see solidity and ethereality coexisting on the same plane. Hartmann uses the structural elements of line and shadow to explore the interplay between form and void. The incomplete nature of the sketches invites interpretation, destabilizing fixed meanings and encouraging a fluid engagement with the artwork. This reflects a broader artistic concern with challenging traditional modes of representation. The formal qualities of incompleteness and multiplicity highlight the open-ended nature of art. It serves not only as a visual experience but also as a site for ongoing questioning and re-evaluation.