Vogn på skovvej 1901

Niels Skovgaard made this etching, ‘Vogn på skovvej’, which translates to ‘Cart on Forest Road’, with ink on paper. I like how the web of marks creates a kind of woven texture that pulls me into the little scene. There is something special about the way the artist creates the feeling of light filtering through the trees with just the absence of ink. Look closely at the lower left corner; the way he suggests the texture of the grassy bank with such a small number of lines feels like a lesson in economy. It reminds me of Whistler’s etchings, where everything feels essential. Both artists embrace the idea that less can often be more. In both cases, the physical process involved in their work is immediately present; we can see it in every little mark. Ultimately, art is about this kind of conversation, about one artist learning from another and then adding their own little piece to the puzzle.