Kompositionsstudie 1879 - 1910

Oluf Hartmann created this composition study using pen and ink on paper, now held at the SMK in Copenhagen. The eye is immediately drawn to the dense concentration of lines forming the lower composition. The sharp, angular strokes create a sense of depth and chaotic energy, contrasting with the sparser sketches above. Hartmann’s use of line is particularly striking. The bold, almost aggressive marks build volume and shadow, yet dissolve into abstraction upon closer inspection. This technique engages with contemporary philosophical ideas, questioning the stability of representation. Consider how the arrangement of these studies on the page introduces a semiotic relationship. The upper sketch, seemingly unrelated, comments on or perhaps even destabilizes the reading of the lower scene. The composition prompts us to examine how meaning is constructed through juxtaposition and contrast, challenging fixed interpretations and inviting ongoing analysis.