Joakim Skovgaard – Preparing the Rice Fields, Java (1908)

 

Joakim Skovgaard’s Preparing the Rice Fields, Java (1908) expands the scope of Danish art beyond national borders. Known for his monumental church decorations and Symbolist tendencies, Skovgaard also engaged with global subjects during his travels. This painting documents agricultural labor in Java, emphasizing rhythm and communal effort rather than exotic spectacle. The restrained palette and structured composition suggest a synthesis of observation and idealization, aligning with Skovgaard’s broader interest in the dignity of work. By incorporating motifs from Southeast Asia, Skovgaard contributed to a dialogue between Danish art and international experience, underscoring the cultural curiosity of early 20th-century modernism.

Source: Ordrupgaard Museum