Figurstudie og lampe 1835

Editor: So this is "Figurstudie og lampe" – "Figure Study and Lamp" – by Martinus Rørbye, created in 1835. It's a pencil drawing on paper, and it's quite faint. It seems like a preliminary sketch, almost like a stage design. What draws your attention when you look at this piece? Curator: Immediately, the visible process jumps out. Rørbye’s hand is so present in the immediacy of the sketch – we see the underdrawing, the erasures, the quickly rendered form. I am also intrigued by the connection, or lack thereof, between the figure and the lamp. Were these studies for something larger, or just explorations of form and light? It is on paper, what type of paper did he use and where it was sourced? Editor: I hadn't thought about the paper itself! So, you see the sketch-like quality as integral to understanding the work, rather than a preliminary step? Curator: Absolutely. The materials *are* the message here, to some extent. Think about the cost and availability of paper and pencils at that time – this wasn't throwaway art. These were valuable resources that imply the artist had some level of financial backing and how this is going to impact production and potentially affect what’s being rendered on this support. I’m particularly drawn to the figure – its anonymity contrasts sharply with the detailed lamp, which seems like it may have been sourced and replicated en masse. What impact that decision makes on Rørbye is something that can also be reflected in how much detail each one is presented on. Editor: That's a really interesting perspective. The social implications of art supplies is something I’ve never considered. I'm going to spend a lot more time thinking about that relationship in the future. Thanks! Curator: It changes everything once you start looking! Focusing on production really forces you to consider broader implications for how work is made and what gets made.