The Daily Valdemar No. 6: March 18

Valdemar Andersen, "New Year's Snow"
full-page in the satirical magazine Klods-Hans, January 3, 1909.

Today's moment of calm by Valdemar Andersen consists of two cartoons marking a poem on the snow at New Year. The time of the transformation between winter and spring. Life will soon begin again, but as yet it is hiding beneath the cover of snow.  

In the midst of the nothingness of the white paper Valdemar has placed a tree stump - or so we think it is? We do know that it is a piece of art nouveau. Rounded shapes in layers upon each other with strong highlights delineating them. It is braving the nothingness of paper and winter, while the old world of naturalism is encircling the opening.

The rounded shapes eventually turn into art nouveau flowers that are circling each other competing to grow into the light. Their winter shroud is now a dainty row of dripping pearls while they are outgrowing the dots for picture frame on all sides. Life cannot be held in.

Art nouveau winning over naturalism. A case for the playfulness in art as in life.