Skovparti med store træer, under hvilke der er to mænd og en hund. Til højre en bro 1576 - 1639

Curator: This is “Skovparti med store træer, under hvilke der er to mænd og en hund. Til højre en bro” or “Wooded Landscape with Large Trees, Beneath Which are Two Men and a Dog. To the Right a Bridge,” an ink drawing dating from between 1576 and 1639, by Roelant Savery. Editor: It’s quite atmospheric. Stark contrasts in shading give a slightly unsettling feel, as if we're glimpsing a forgotten, overgrown corner of a once-grand estate. The skeletal trees loom ominously. Curator: Yes, and notice the interplay of light and shadow, a common Baroque technique to enhance drama. Consider the materiality itself; the starkness of the ink allows for impressive detail. It's a study in the stark resources required for its making. I’m interested in the labour expended on such intricate work, a labour often divorced from contemporary ideas about craft. Editor: It certainly speaks to the artistic conventions of the time. Landscape painting was increasingly popular, providing not just scenery, but also serving as a commentary on man's relationship with nature. It's about controlling and ordering nature as well as using that portrayal for personal or institutional gain through sale. Curator: Right, how the commodification of nature is depicted in this artwork is pretty apparent, while its role may function to ennoble. How ink became so valuable is pretty revealing, its production having historical weight. Editor: And how the landscape motif becomes imbued with the values of the rising merchant class and then further legitimized via museum acquisitions! Savery's inclusion in collections like those at SMK demonstrate the painting's elevated social and aesthetic worth. Curator: Indeed, a great way to describe Savery's piece that considers production and also the museum's validation through acquisition. Thanks for helping add some insights! Editor: Of course. The intersection of material and historical context enriches the viewers experience I think!