Landskab og skystudie 1883

Agnes Slott-Møller created this small watercolor painting, ‘Landskab og skystudie,’ around 1883. Watercolor is an interesting medium. Inexpensive and easily portable, it's often used for studies and sketches, yet it also has a long history as a medium for finished artworks. Here, Slott-Møller has exploited its fluidity to capture the fleeting effects of light on the landscape. Notice how the washes of color blend seamlessly, creating a sense of atmospheric perspective. The layered applications of pigment suggest a working process that is both deliberate and spontaneous, a dance between control and chance. Consider the availability of art supplies at this time, and the role of color in capturing and shaping one's personal perception of nature, and one begins to realize the significance of her choice of material. This modest artwork challenges traditional notions of artistic value, reminding us that meaning resides not only in the subject, but also in the making.