Om "Kampen", "Evnen" og "Erkendelsen". Desuden løse penselstrøg 1913 - 1914

J.A. Jerichau made this watercolour sketch, writing in the margins of the page; it’s about struggle, ability, and awareness. The watercolour washes feel provisional, as though Jerichau is figuring something out through a process of painting and writing. Look at the way the pale washes of colour have been applied to the page, some bleeding into and partially obscuring the inscription. The colour palette is very limited, pinks and blues – the same colours you get when you press a flower! The marks are translucent, laid down with a light touch. Down towards the bottom of the page you can see a series of brushstrokes that describe a landscape. These are more descriptive than the more abstract marks above. Jerichau tragically died at a young age, and I think this piece shows that a lot of his work was about trying to find an authentic language with which to express himself. In that regard, I think he chimes with artists like Cy Twombly, who similarly worked between painting and writing.