To skagboere i samtale ved havet 1847 - 1848

This drawing, "To skagboere i samtale ved havet" or "Two men from Skagen talking by the sea," was made by Martinus Rørbye using graphite and possibly charcoal. The choice of these materials is significant. Graphite, especially, allows for quick, light sketching, perfect for capturing a fleeting moment like this encounter. You can see the artist has built up the image through layers of hatching, defining the forms of the two figures and suggesting the vastness of the sea and sky around them. The visible strokes of graphite or charcoal show the artist's hand at work, and the marks almost vibrate with energy. Rørbye was not interested in creating a highly finished, polished picture; instead, he valued the immediacy of the sketch. The sketch captures the social context of the work: the daily routines of everyday life. This emphasis on process and materiality invites us to consider how the act of making shapes our understanding of the image and the people in it. Rather than seeing this work as a mere representation, we can appreciate it as a direct trace of the artist's experience.