Flaget hejses 1901

Niels Skovgaard made "Flaget hejses," using a plate of 130 by 104 mm to depict children in a room, eager with anticipation. The scene comes alive through delicate lines, revealing layers of light and shadow. I can almost see Skovgaard, hunched over the plate, carefully etching each line, building up the scene bit by bit. I imagine him pausing, considering, adjusting his vision to capture the energy of the children. What was he remembering of his own childhood? Look at the way the figures are arranged. They cluster together, their bodies tilted towards the window. Maybe Skovgaard aimed to convey the feeling of a shared moment, a collective experience of hope and excitement. It is like those early etchings by Rembrandt; where the lines are more like feelings. Artists converse across time, each building upon the work of those who came before, and in turn, inspiring those who follow. Painting is an ongoing dialogue. It is about embracing ambiguity and uncertainty and allowing multiple interpretations.