Den store nadver 1901

Joakim Skovgaard made this monumental painting of the Last Supper at an undetermined date using what seems like fresco or tempera. Look at how Skovgaard’s muted palette—mostly greys and browns—gives the scene a somber, almost ghostly feel. The layering of figures, one over the other, creates a real sense of depth, but also confusion, almost as if the painting is trying to capture a collective memory, where details blur. Notice the brushwork around the figures, particularly how their robes are rendered. There’s a fluidity, a kind of melting quality to the lines, that suggests movement and time passing. This connects to how Skovgaard explores the weight of the moment. The gestures, the glances exchanged, they all contribute to this atmosphere of anticipation and unease. It reminds me a little of the work of Puvis de Chavannes, in its grand scale and almost dreamlike quality. It makes you think about how history and myth blend together in our minds.