Da følte den sig ganske undseelig... 1928

Curator: Looking at this drawing by Fritz Syberg, entitled "Da følte den sig ganske undseelig...", created in 1928, one immediately notes the delicate application of ink on paper. It is currently held at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: My first impression is of quietness. The landscape feels very intimate, like stumbling upon a hidden little scene in nature. It's almost claustrophobic with all of those trees drawn closely together, but tranquil too because of the water. Curator: The rapid, sketchy ink work belies the sense of serenity you describe. One senses the quick hand and repeated lines indicative of a more involved creation than simply a spontaneous record. This reveals something of the materiality, the layered labour in rendering the landscape visible through mass production methods of drawing, sketching, and ink application. Editor: Absolutely, I can see the layered labor in the texture! And I think what I'm picking up on in that atmosphere is created, too, through Syberg’s specific, detailed observations of nature. He is using dense thicket to hint at that sense of smallness that he included in the drawing title; 'Then it felt quite insignificant...'. Curator: And what of the landscape's relationship with early 20th century Danish rural economies and access to artistic means for those whose lifestyles reflect them? Were his depictions reflecting societal challenges to that lifestyle at the time, or perhaps simply documenting changing industrial demands? Editor: Perhaps both. Syberg did choose to move out to the country when it wasn’t that popular, creating an art colony in Fünen with his wife. It suggests a connection to craft and an appreciation of the handmade versus mass production. Though the text at the bottom of the artwork may further imply that the author sees themselves within the landscape. Curator: True! And ultimately it's how those interpretations are shaped through distribution that makes art matter! Editor: I guess we just want our experiences to resonate with others, to remind ourselves we aren't alone, quite like how this image and its title suggest in its moment in time.