Salys rytterstatue af Frederik V 1923

Axel Hou made this print of the Salys rytterstatue af Frederik V sometime in the 20th century, but it feels timeless. The hatching marks are really striking, like a dense network of tiny scratches building up the image. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the plate, etching away to reveal the form. There's this sense of weight and monumentality, but it's tempered by the delicate, almost fragile quality of the lines. Look at the way he renders the horse’s flanks. The lines there are so sensitive. They are full of soft shadows. Then, in contrast, the crisp, defined lines of the statue's base add a solid, grounded feel. It reminds me of Piranesi, but with a more intimate, human touch. It is as if Hou is inviting us to contemplate not just the grandeur of the statue, but the very act of seeing and representing. Art is a dialogue across time, and this print is a testament to that ongoing conversation.