Olieskitse til Jesus og Samaritanerinden ved brønden

The artist employs loose brushwork and a restrained palette of earth tones, with the woman’s yellow headscarf and Jesus’ red robe providing subtle focal points. Light falls evenly across the figures, avoiding dramatic chiaroscuro, instead favoring naturalistic clarity. The landscape is rendered with soft, blended strokes, suggesting distance through muted greens and blues, reinforcing the sketch’s informal, observational character.

The work entered the Museum of Ethnography’s collection in the late 19th or early 20th century, likely through acquisition or donation. Its classification under ethnographic materials may reflect contemporary interest in biblical scenes as cultural artifacts rather than purely religious imagery. The artist’s identity remains obscure, with no documented exhibition history prior to its museum acquisition.

In mid-19th-century Denmark, biblical subjects were frequently explored by artists seeking moral or humanist themes. This sketch aligns with a broader trend of depicting biblical narratives in everyday, naturalistic settings, moving away from grand historical styles. The choice of a Samaritan woman—a figure often overlooked in Christian art—hints at emerging interest in marginalized voices within religious storytelling.

Though not widely exhibited or reproduced, the sketch contributes to a quieter lineage of 19th-century religious studies that prioritized emotional nuance over doctrinal spectacle. Its preservation in an ethnographic museum underscores a shift in how religious imagery was contextualized—as cultural expression rather than devotional object—reflecting evolving museum practices of the era.